Celtic Football Club today announced that Celtic Women’s manager Fran Alonso is leaving the club to pursue an excellent opportunity in one of the world’s leading women’s leagues.
Fran has been Celtic FC Women’s Head Coach for almost four years, joining Celtic in January 2020 from Lewes FC Women. He now joins Houston Dash FC, the premier club of the American NWSL, as head coach.
His appointment at Celtic coincided with the team turning professional and he oversaw real change at the club and achieved unprecedented success on the pitch. Winning the League Cup in 2021 was only the team’s second major honor and first silverware in over 10 years. This was followed by Scottish Cup success in 2022 and 2023, while two Scottish Women’s Premier League runners-up finishes also contributed to the club’s first two experiences in the UEFA Women’s Championship.
He leaves the club in a great position, once again competing strongly in the league and reaching the semi-finals of the Sky Sports Cup.
Fran Alonso said: “I wasn’t born a Celtic supporter, but I will definitely die one and support Celtic for the rest of my life.
“The club, the team, the people and the Celtic community have been everything to me over the last four years and lit up my life. It’s been a great adventure. “The values, spirit and ethos of the club have been everything to me and I am so proud to be manager of Celtic.
- I am very sad to leave Celtic and it was really difficult to do it. However, the new opportunity in America is something I have dreamed of since I started coaching the women’s game and I know our Celtic supporters understand.
“Over the last four years I have given everything on and off the pitch and I am delighted that we have made history so many times – our first UEFA Champions League qualification, our first Scottish Cup, our first win. In the UEFA Champions League we won three cups and we managed to be just minutes away from our first league title I want to thank everyone at Celtic who have given me so much support. The way you all feel about us is indescribable. and “I want to thank all the players over these four years who have given everything for me and the brand, as well as my backroom team who have always gone the extra mile to help the team on and off the pitch. “Thanks to the directors and management at Celtic for giving me the opportunity to come here and of course thanks to the best fans who have really supported us through difficult times, been behind us and created an atmosphere that will stay with us for the rest of our lives “I leave knowing that the Celtic women’s team is in a much better place than when I first joined and I’m sure it will continue to grow with the great team we have built.”
“I wish the club and the team all the best, I will always support you from abroad. Come jump!” Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson said: “I would like to sincerely thank Fran for her fantastic contribution to the development of our women’s team. “Under him, our group of players has grown into an exciting and successful team – one that has achieved great things and is gaining more and more support. “Fran has played a key role in establishing Celtic FC Women as one of the leading forces in the Scottish game and we will do everything we can to maintain and improve this. - We are also trying to build on the progress the team has made at European level over the last two years.
“While we are very disappointed to lose Fran, everyone at the club sincerely wishes him well in his new challenge. - The work to find out his successor has already started and we will announce the task as soon as possible.