Rhian Wilkinson facts for kids
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Wilkinson in 2013
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Rhian Emilie Wilkinson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | May 12, 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Quebec provincial team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Lakers Lac St. Louis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Tennessee Lady Volunteers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | Ottawa Fury | 38 | (13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2012 | Team Strømmen | 71 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | → Western Mass Pioneers (loan) | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | → Surrey United (loan) | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Boston Breakers | 14 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Laval Comets | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Portland Thorns | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 139 | (26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2017 | Canada | 181 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee Volunteers (volunteer assistant) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Canada U-17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Canada U-20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Canada (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | England (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Great Britain (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Portland Thorns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of February 14, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rhian Emilie Wilkinson, born on May 12, 1982, is a Canadian professional soccer coach and former player. She is currently the head coach for the Wales women's national team. Before this, she coached Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She led them to win the 2022 NWSL Championship.
As a player, Rhian Wilkinson played over 180 games for the Canadian national team. She won two Olympic bronze medals in soccer in 2012 and 2016. She mostly played as an attacking right fullback for her national team. For her club teams, she played as a forward and a midfielder.
Contents
Early Life and Youth Soccer
Rhian Wilkinson was born in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada. Her parents, Keith Wilkinson and Shan Evans, were from Britain. Her father, who was born in Denmark, played for the Canada national rugby union team. Her mother was born in Wales. Rhian has an older brother, David, and a twin sister named Sara.
In 1990, Rhian lived in Wales for a year and went to Bont Faen Primary School. The school did not have soccer for girls. Her mother joined the school's parent-teacher group to help create sports teams for everyone.
Rhian attended Villa Maria High School in Montreal. She was the top student in her graduating class. She played soccer for the Quebec provincial team from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, she was named the most valuable player after her team won a silver medal at the national championships.
In 1997 and 1998, she helped the Lac St. Louis Lakers win two silver medals at national club championships. She was chosen as the Greater Montreal Athletic Association's Most Valuable Soccer Player in 2000. In 2001, she attended a training camp for the Canadian under-19 national team. Rhian also played ice hockey and rugby during her high school years.
She studied speech communication and English at the University of Tennessee. In 2002, she was named the Lady Vols' Offensive Most Valuable Player for the university's soccer team.
Playing Career Highlights
Rhian Wilkinson was a very successful player. In 2003, she was named to the W-League All-Star team. In 2004, she was part of the W-League Championship All-Tournament team. She won the W-League scoring championship in 2005. She also tied for the most assists that year.
She started playing for Team Strømmen in Norway in 2005. She played with this club for eight seasons. In 2013, she joined the Boston Breakers in the new National Women's Soccer League. She played as a midfielder for Boston and scored two goals.
In 2014, she signed with the Laval Comets in the W-League. The next year, in 2015, Wilkinson joined Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL. In February 2016, the Thorns announced she would not play for them that year. She then became a free agent.
International Play for Canada
Wilkinson won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2007 Pan American Games. She then won a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games. Canada beat Brazil in a penalty shootout to win the gold.
She earned an Olympic bronze medal at the London 2012 Games. Canada defeated France 1–0 on August 9, 2012. Rhian also helped Canada with three assists in the first two games of the 2014 Cyprus Cup. She announced her retirement from international soccer on January 13, 2017.
Coaching Career
After her playing career, Rhian Wilkinson became a coach. She was a volunteer assistant coach at her old university, Tennessee Volunteers. She also worked as an assistant coach for the Canadian women's national team in 2019 and 2020. During that time, she also led Canada's under-20 and under-17 youth teams.
In February 2021, Wilkinson was named assistant manager for the England women's national team. She worked alongside Hege Riise. Riise and Wilkinson also coached the Great Britain women's Olympic team in 2021.
Leading Portland Thorns
In November 2021, Wilkinson became the head coach of Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She guided the team to finish second in the regular season. Then, they went on to win the 2022 NWSL Championship. They defeated the Kansas City Current 2–0 in the final.
Despite this success, Wilkinson decided to leave the team in December 2022. She felt she might have lost the team's trust. A review found that she had not broken any team or league rules.
Coaching Wales
Rhian Wilkinson was named the head coach of the Wales women's national team in February 2024. Under her leadership, Wales made history. On December 3, 2024, they defeated Ireland 2-1. This win meant the team qualified for their first major tournament, the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Outside of soccer, Rhian Wilkinson enjoys playing the cello. She also played the trumpet when she was in high school. She has been a member of the Suzuki Strings Orchestra since 1994. In 1997, she participated in the Quebec Winter Games in ringette, which is a team sport played on ice.
Honours and Awards
Playing Achievements
With Canada
- Summer Olympic Games: Bronze medal: 2012, 2016
- Pan American Games: Gold medal: 2011
Individual Awards
- Canada Soccer Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2022
- "Maurice" Award: 2008
- Canada Soccer Fans' Choice Award: 2007
- Senior Excellence Women Player: 2007
- Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year: 2000
Coaching Achievements
Portland Thorns FC
- NWSL Championship: 2022
