‘Remi will go far’ – Aston Villa boss Ward backs Allen to enjoy successful coaching career | OneFootball

Aston Villa head coach Carla Ward has backed retiring midfielder Remi Allen to enjoy a successful coaching career.

Allen announced her retirement last night, pulling the curtain down on a 16-year senior playing career which has seen her represent six different clubs.

The 33-year-old has been building her coaching experience in recent months. Allen worked as an assistant within the England Under-23s set-up before taking a short-term head coach role at London City Lionesses. She guided The Pride to Barclays Women’s Championship safety, providing much-needed stability at the Princes Park-based club.

When reflecting on Allen’s career, Aston Villa boss Ward paid tribute to ‘a top professional’ before backing the former England youth international to go far in her coaching journey.

“I’ve still got pictures of when me and Remi used to kick 10 bells out of each other when we were playing,” Ward said when speaking in an Aston Villa press conference. “We had some great battles on the pitch as players, we wore our hearts on our sleeves and that’s probably why we ended up developing a friendship.

“I’ve worked with Remi as well as played with her and she’s a top professional, a student of the game. I believe that Remi will go far [in her coaching career] because she studies the game, she watches the game and is obsessed with the game. You have to be one of those to be a top coach.

“I think she has done an unbelievable job going into London City in a short amount of time. If she stays there, they’ll be lucky to have her next year and if not, I have no doubt that she will go on to be successful.

“It’s another female showing that when given the opportunity, they can really go somewhere with it.”

Ward went on to praise London City Lionesses for giving Allen the chance to showcase her talents. She is one of a crop of talented young coaches coming through, however, Ward is concerned that not enough clubs are giving young female coaches the opportunities.

She said “There are still too many [clubs] that probably look abroad or for the next male coach. There’s not enough focus on females within the game, even from a staffing point of view, there’s not enough females. There’s so much quality out there.

“Fair play to London City for giving Remi the opportunity. She has shown everyone that she’s capable.

“There are so many people out there that just need that chance and hopefully, more and more clubs will look that way but sadly, I can’t say that they do.”

Allen’s short-term contract with London City Lionesses is due to expire this summer. A decision is likely to be made on her future in the coming weeks.