Rhian Wilkinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rhian Wilkinson

Wilkinson in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Rhian Emilie Wilkinson
Date of birth	(1982-05-12) May 12, 1982 (age 43)
Place of birth	Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada
Height	1.66 m
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
1997–1999	Quebec provincial team
1997–1998	Lakers Lac St. Louis
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)
National team
2003–2017	Canada	181	(7)
Teams managed
	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
Honours Women's soccer Representing  Canada Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London Team Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team Pan American Games Gold 2011 Guadalajara Team Silver 2003 Santo Domingo Team Bronze 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 14, 2016. † Appearances (Goals).

Rhian Emilie Wilkinson (born May 12, 1982) is a Canadian professional soccer coach and former player. She currently coaches the Wales women's national team. Before this, she was the head coach for Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She led them to win the 2022 NWSL Championship.

As a player, Wilkinson played over 180 games for the Canadian national team. She won Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016. She mostly played as a defender for the national team. For her club teams, she also played as a forward and midfielder.

Rhian Wilkinson's Early Life

Rhian Wilkinson was born in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada. Her parents are Keith Wilkinson and Shan Evans. Her father, who was born in Denmark and is English, played for and directed the Canada national rugby union team. Her mother, Shan Evans, was born in Wales. Rhian has an older brother named David and a twin sister named Sara.

In 1990, she lived in Wales for a year and went to Bont Faen Primary School. The school did not have soccer for girls. Rhian's mother joined the Parent-Teacher Association to help the school start sports teams for everyone.

Rhian went to Villa Maria High School in Montreal. She was the top student in her class. She played soccer for the Quebec provincial team from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, she was named the most valuable player. She helped her team win a silver medal at the national championships. She also helped the Lac St. Louis Lakers win two silver medals in 1997 and 1998. In 2000, she was named the Greater Montreal Athletic Association's Most Valuable Soccer Player. She also played ice hockey and rugby.

Wilkinson studied speech communication and English at the University of Tennessee. In 2002, she was named the Lady Vols' Offensive Most Valuable Player for her university team.

Playing for Soccer Clubs

Rhian Wilkinson was a very successful player in the W-League. She was chosen for the W-League All-Star team in 2003. In 2004, she was on the W-League Championship All-Tournament team. In 2005, she was the top scorer in the W-League. She scored 13 goals and had 12 assists, totaling 38 points.

In 2005, she started playing for Team Strømmen in Norway's top league, the Toppserien. 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 and scored two goals for Boston.

She then signed with the Laval Comets in the W-League in 2014.

In 2015, Wilkinson moved to Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League. In February 2016, the Thorns announced she would not play for them that year.

Rhian Wilkinson playing for Canada in 2011

Playing for Canada's National Team

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. In that game, Canada beat Brazil in a penalty shootout.

She also won an Olympic bronze medal at London 2012. Canada defeated France 1–0 in that match. She helped Canada with three assists in the first two games of the 2014 Cyprus Cup. Rhian Wilkinson announced she was retiring from international soccer on January 13, 2017.

Rhian Wilkinson's Coaching Career

After her playing career, Wilkinson became 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 this time, she also led Canada's under-20 and under-17 soccer programs.

In February 2021, Wilkinson became an assistant manager for the England women's national team. She worked with head coach Hege Riise. Riise and Wilkinson also coached the Great Britain women's Olympic team in 2021.

In November 2021, Wilkinson was named the head coach of Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She led the team to finish second in the regular season. Then, they won the 2022 NWSL Championship by beating the Kansas City Current 2–0. Wilkinson left her role with the Thorns in December 2022.

In February 2024, Rhian Wilkinson was named the head coach of the Wales national team.

Personal Interests

Rhian Wilkinson enjoys playing the cello. She also played the trumpet when she was in high school. She has been part of the Suzuki Strings Orchestra since 1994. In 1997, she took part in the Quebec Winter Games in ringette, which is a sport similar to ice hockey.

Coaching Records

Here is a summary of Rhian Wilkinson's coaching record:

Awards and Achievements

Rhian Wilkinson has won many awards and honors throughout her career as both a player and a coach.

Playing Achievements

With Canada

• Summer Olympic Games:
  • Bronze medal: 2012, 2016
• Pan American Games:
  • Gold medal: 2011

Individual Awards

• Canada Soccer Hall of Fame: 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