Casey Stoney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Casey Stoney
MBE

Stoney in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Casey Jean Stoney
Date of birth	(1982-05-13) 13 May 1982 (age 43)
Place of birth	Basildon, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.74 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1994–1998	Chelsea
1998–1999	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2002	Arsenal
2002–2007	Charlton Athletic
2007–2011	Chelsea
2011–2013	Lincoln	38	(1)
2014–2016	Arsenal	39	(5)
2016–2018	Liverpool	14	(1)
International career
2000–2017	England	130	(6)
2012	Great Britain	5	(1)
Managerial career
2009	Chelsea (women)
2009	England (women) (assistant)
2018–2021	Manchester United (women)
2021–2024	San Diego Wave
2025–	Canada (women)
Medal record Women's football Representing  England FIFA Women's World Cup Bronze 2015 Canada UEFA Women's Championship Silver 2009 Finland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Casey Jean Stoney (born 13 May 1982) is an English professional football manager and former player. She is currently the head coach of the Canada women's national soccer team.

Stoney was a talented defender who played over 100 games for the England women's national football team. She first played for England in 2000. She was a key part of the England teams that reached the UEFA Women's Euro 2009 final. She also played in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007 and 2011. In 2012, Stoney became the captain for England. She also captained the Great Britain squad at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She finished her playing career at Liverpool Ladies.

After retiring as a player, Stoney became the first head coach of the new Manchester United Women team in June 2018. Under her leadership, United won the FA Women's Championship title in their first season. This earned them promotion to the top league, the FA WSL. In July 2021, Stoney became the head coach of San Diego Wave FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States. She left the Wave in 2024.

Club Career Highlights

Early Years at Chelsea and Arsenal

Casey Stoney started her football journey at a young age. She joined Chelsea Ladies when she was 12 years old. Later, in 1999, she moved to Arsenal Ladies.

Time at Charlton Athletic

In 2002, Stoney joined Charlton Athletic Ladies. She was already playing for the England national team. She wanted to play more regularly. At Charlton, she became captain and led the team to their first FA Women's Cup final.

She helped Charlton win the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2004. They also won the FA Women's Cup in 2005, beating Everton 1–0. In 2006, they won the Premier League Cup again, defeating Arsenal. When Charlton Athletic's men's team was moved to a lower league in 2007, the club decided to close down its women's section. Stoney was very upset by this decision.

Returning to Chelsea

In July 2007, Stoney signed with Chelsea Ladies again. Her teammate from Charlton, Eniola Aluko, also joined Chelsea. In February 2009, Stoney took on a new role. She became a player-manager for Chelsea until the end of that season.

Playing for Lincoln

On 13 March 2010, Stoney announced she was joining Lincoln Ladies. This team was part of the new FA WSL. She joined other England players like Sue Smith and Jess Clarke. Stoney said Lincoln offered full-time training, which was important to her.

Second Time at Arsenal

Stoney playing for Arsenal in 2017

Stoney returned to Arsenal in 2014. She signed a two-year contract. She wanted to win more trophies with the club.

Final Club: Liverpool

On 13 December 2016, Liverpool announced that Stoney had joined their team. She played her last game for Liverpool on 21 February 2018. After this, she retired from playing football. She then took on a coaching role with the England women's national football team.

International Career

Playing for England

Stoney played for England's youth teams before joining the senior team. She made her first appearance for the senior England team in August 2000. This was as a substitute against France. She became England's main left back. In February 2003, she wore the captain's armband for the first time in a friendly match. Her first goal for England came in March 2005 against Portugal.

Stoney was part of the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2005. However, she did not play in any matches. This made her consider leaving international football. But she continued and was a key player in the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. She played every minute of every match as England reached the quarter-finals. In May 2009, Stoney was one of the first female players to receive a central contract from The Football Association (FA).

At the UEFA Women's Euro 2009 tournament in Finland, Stoney helped England reach the final. She said this was one of the best moments of her career.

Stoney with England in 2015

Stoney played in all four of England's games at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She scored her penalty in the quarter-final penalty shoot-out against France. In 2012, Stoney became the new England captain. She said it was "the biggest privilege" she had ever received.

In 2013, Stoney became the first female member of the Professional Footballers' Association's management committee. She led England in their UEFA Women's Euro 2013 campaign. However, the team did not perform well. When England's manager Hope Powell was replaced, Stoney was not in the first squad chosen by the new manager. She later understood the decision to change the captaincy. Steph Houghton became the new captain.

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada was Stoney's third World Cup. She said it would be her last. England reached the semi-finals for the first time, and Stoney was part of this historic team. She also played in the England squad that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Women's Euro 2017. Her last international match was on 1 July 2017.

Playing for Great Britain

In June 2012, Stoney was chosen for the Great Britain women's Olympic football team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. She was confirmed as the team's captain. Stoney scored a goal in the team's 3–0 win over Cameroon. Great Britain won all their group matches. They reached the quarter-finals but lost 2–0 to Canada. Stoney was disappointed by the loss.

Managerial Career

Coaching at Chelsea

In February 2009, Casey Stoney became the player-manager for Chelsea Ladies. She held this role until June 2009.

Coaching for England

After she retired from playing in 2018, Stoney joined Phil Neville's coaching team. She worked with the England women's national team.

Leading Manchester United

On 8 June 2018, Stoney was named the first head coach of the new Manchester United Women team. Her first game in charge was a win against Liverpool. In their first season, United won the FA Women's Championship title. They won 18 out of 20 games and lost only once. This success earned them promotion to the FA WSL. Stoney also led United to the FA Cup quarter-finals and League Cup semi-finals.

In the 2019–20 FA WSL season, Stoney managed United in their first Manchester derby. This game was played in front of a record crowd of 31,213 fans. Manchester United lost that match. However, they beat Manchester City 2–0 in the League Cup six weeks later. This was Stoney's and the club's first Manchester derby win. In November 2019, Stoney signed a contract extension with Manchester United until 2022. She left Manchester United in May 2021.

Coaching San Diego Wave

Stoney as San Diego Wave FC head coach in October 2023

On 14 July 2021, Stoney was announced as the first head coach of San Diego Wave FC. This new team started playing in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2022. In their first season, the Wave finished third in the league. Stoney was named the league's coach of the year. The Wave reached the NWSL Playoffs semi-finals.

In 2023, Stoney's Wave FC won the NWSL regular season championship. They won the NWSL 2023 Shield. This earned them a direct spot in the semi-finals of the playoffs. However, they lost to the OL Reign at home. The Wave started the 2024 season by winning the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup. But they had a tough period, going seven games without a win. Because of this, Stoney was no longer the coach of the Wave on 24 June 2024.

Coaching Canada Women

Casey Stoney was named the head coach of the Canada women's national soccer team in January 2025.

Personal Life

In November 2012, Casey Stoney was recognized on a list of influential lesbian and gay people in the UK. On 10 February 2014, Stoney shared details about her personal life. She is in a relationship with Megan Harris, who was her former teammate at Lincoln. On 16 July 2014, Stoney announced that Harris was expecting twins. The twins were born on 8 November 2014. Stoney's third child was born on 12 December 2017.

In May 2015, the University of Essex gave Stoney an honorary degree. Stoney was also appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2015. This honor was for her services to football.

Honours and Achievements

As a Player

Stoney (left) with teammate Jordan Nobbs lifting the League Cup with Arsenal in 2015

Arsenal

• FA Women's Premier League National Division: 2000–01, 2001–02
• Women's FA Cup: 2001, 2014, 2016
• FA Women's League Cup: 2015
• FA Women's Premier League Cup: 1999–2000, 2000–01
• Women's FA Community Shield: 2000, 2001

Charlton Athletic

• Women's FA Cup: 2004–05
• FA Women's Premier League Cup: 2003–04, 2005–06
• Women's FA Community Shield: 2004

England

• UEFA Women's Championship runner-up: 2009
• FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015

Individual Awards

Stoney celebrating promotion with Manchester United at the end of their inaugural season

• FA International Player of the Year Award: 2008, 2012
• FA WSL Team of the Year: 2014–15, 2015–16

As a Manager

Manchester United

• FA Women's Championship: 2018–19

San Diego Wave

• NWSL Shield: 2023
• NWSL Challenge Cup: 2024

Individual Manager Awards

• LMA Women's Championship Manager of the Month: November 2018, February 2019, April 2019
• Women's Super League Manager of the Month: November 2020, December 2020
• NWSL Coach of the Year: 2022

See also

In Spanish: Casey Stoney para niños