History-making coach Jill Ellis speaks about the FIFA Women’s World Cup, honouring Bonmati and Paralluelo and the “critical” decision facing USA.

Jill Ellis is, by any measure, the most successful coach in the history of women’s football. In winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ more than once, and never losing a game at the global finals, she stands alone and supreme.

When the 57-year-old stepped down as USA coach in the wake of the second of those back-to-back triumphs, she did so having won 106 and lost just seven of her 132 matches in charge. It’s a silverware-laden record that speaks eloquently for itself, and it made her the perfect candidate to lead FIFA’s Technical Study Group at Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Ellis headed a group of 12 experts tasked with carrying out analysis, identifying trends and, ultimately, selecting the recipients of the various individual awards. The former USA coach reflected on that role in a wide-ranging interview with FIFA that touched on the fortunes of, and future for, her former team.