Jarmo Matikainen interview: Wales Women’s departing coach stays

An interview with Jarmo Matikainen after the Finn announced he would leave his post in charge of women’s football at the FA of Wales, then agreed to see the senior side through to the end of the 2015 World Cup qualifying campaign. Matikainen explains that he decided in November to move back to Finland and stepped down from the full-time role covering the senior, Under-19 and Under-17 teams, but offered to stay with the seniors for the rest of the campaign, travelling over at weekends while his assistants handle match and player observation and contact is maintained by email and an online coaching monitoring tool. He describes building a professional national-team set-up with high standards and strong co-operation with Welsh Premier League and girls’ clubs, praises players who juggle work and family to play, and says Wales believe they have a chance of qualifying.