Signeul’s Scotland Swansong (Anna Signeul interview)

In her final weeks after twelve years in charge, Anna Signeul reflects on taking Scotland to a first major championship. She refuses to look past individual games, feels for the injured Kim Little, Jennifer Beattie and Lizzie Arnot but points out they are young enough for the next one, and is proud of a squad mixing youth and experience. Her most striking answer is about the media: the women’s game needs prime-time television and newspaper coverage because interest creates sponsors, sponsors create money, money brings spectators, and spectators bring girls into the game – a wheel she hopes the Euros will spin faster. She also intends to prepare her players for unkind coverage, calling that part of a head coach’s job, and says building anything takes time.