Christiansen ‘blown away’ by Women’s team ambitions | OneFootball

Former Manchester City midfielder Izzy Christiansen says she’s hugely impressed with our Women’s team’s Academy set up and the Club’s long-term ambitions.

The ex-England international, who enjoyed an illustrious spell with the Blues between 2014 and 2018, was speaking on the latest episode of the Official Man City Podcast which goes live at 18:00 (UK) today.

After retiring from playing in 2023 following stints at Lyon then Everton, Christiansen returned to the Club last year as an Under-16s girls assistant coach.

Her arrival came amid an exciting time on and off the pitch as plans were submitted for a purpose-built women’s facility at the CFA before youth starlets such as Lily Murphy, Codie Thomas, Gracie Prior and Eve O’Carroll were afforded their senior debuts by Gareth Taylor in 2024/25.

And she says the direction City’s Women’s team is moving in, under the guidance of Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill and our leadership team, is a source of great motivation and satisfaction.

“Since I stopped playing, being part of this Club again has just made my life,” Christiansen declared.

“The impact we can have coaching the next generation of Manchester City footballers inspires me so much.

“I work with the Under-16s girls Academy group, I’m an assistant coach. I work three days a week at the City Football Academy and just the programme and operation that is run by the Academy, by the Club – I’m honestly blown away.

“Everyday I’m blown away by how professional it is and what inspires me even more is where they want to be and the aspirations for the future to become [professionals].

“I had a great meeting with Charlotte O’Neill a couple of weeks ago and it inspired me to a point where I was like I don’t want to work for any other club with how exciting their plans are.

“It’s to become the best female sporting organisation in the world and that includes an Academy because you’ve got to feed a first team and results.

“It’s so impressive with what they’re doing with women’s football. They’ve also been sustainable with it and I think that’s even more admirable as much as the aspirations are as well.”

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In the next instalment of the Official Man City Podcast, Christiansen also outlines her future coaching ambitions.

Having played in the Champions League with City during her playing days before winning the prestigious trophy with Lyon in 2019, she wants to be operating on the European stage once again.

And she says she’s open to that goal in any capacity.

She added: “I would like to be coaching a Champions League football club.

“In whatever capacity that is, I’m not going to hang a hat on that right now because I learn from everyone I work with.

“Going back to what inspires me and gets my fire started is around who you do it with. If that means I’m an assistant coach to a figurehead, happy days.

“If it means I’m a head coach and I have other staff working with me, great.”