Willie Kirk

Willie Kirk
Kirk in September 2021, managing Everton
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-06-07) 7 June 1978[1]
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Preston Athletic
Managerial career
2010–2014 Hibernian
2014–2015 Preston Athletic (men)
2015–2018 Bristol City
2018 Manchester United (assistant)
2018–2021 Everton
2022–2024 Leicester City
2025–2025 Linköping
2025- Djurgårdens IF
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Willie Kirk (born 7 June 1978) is a Scottish football manager who is currently the manager of Damallsvenskan club Djurgårdens IF.[2]

Playing career

Kirk played semi-professional football for Pumpherston FC, Whitburn FC, and Preston Athletic, later agreeing to manage the team in the 2014–15 Lowland Football League season.[3]

Managerial career

Livingston FC Academy

Kirk began his coaching career at Livingston FC as an assistant academy coach to Derek McWilliams for the club's under-14 team in December 2006. He advanced to head coach of the under-14 team the following season, before progressing to the under-15 team, and finally the under-17 team before being headhunted by Hibernian FC.[1]

Hibernian

In March 2009, Kirk joined the academy coaching staff at Hibernian to become assistant coach of the under-17 team. In January 2010, Kirk then became head coach of the women's team, Hibernian L.F.C.[1] In his first season in charge of Hibernian, he led them to win the 2010 Scottish Cup.[4] Kirk followed up the 2010 cup title by winning the Scottish League Cup in 2011, whilst also finishing as runners-up in the Scottish Cup, and third position in the table. The 2013 season saw Hibernian finishing second and Kirk earning Scottish Women's Football Manager of the Year award.[4]

Bristol City

In April 2015, Kirk made the move to England and was appointed manager of Bristol City competing in the FA WSL 1.[4] After a rough season, Bristol City was relegated to WSL 2, finishing in last place after the 2015 season. The relegation was short lived, as Kirk's Bristol City rallied in the WSL 2 finishing second during the WSL season and earned promotion back to the FA WSL 1.[5] Kirk's subsequent seasons would see back-to-back eighth-place finishes, maintaining safety in the women's top flight.[6]

Manchester United

In June 2018, Kirk joined the coaching staff at the newly formed Manchester United as assistant coach to Casey Stoney.[7]

Everton

In December 2018, Kirk was appointed manager of Everton after being offered the number one position of a top flight team.[8] His debut as manager of the Blues was a victory, defeating rivals Liverpool 2–1.[9] On 16 October 2021, Kirk left his position.[10]

Leicester City

In July 2022, Kirk was appointed as director of football at Leicester City.[11] On 3 November 2022, Kirk was appointed as manager, following the departure of Lydia Bedford.[12] On 8 March 2024, it was reported that Leicester had suspended Kirk and launched an investigation into an alleged relationship between him and one of the players.[13][14][15] The investigation prompted several other managers in women's football to comment that relationships between managers and players are inappropriate.[16][17][18] On 28 March 2024, Leicester sacked Kirk as a result of the investigation having found that he had "breached the team's code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable".

Honours

Hibernian Women

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c O'Neill, Jen (28 January 2019). "In Conversation: Everton Ladies' Manager Willie Kirk chats openly about Manchester United, the pull of being the boss & more…". She Kicks. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Välkommen Willie Kirk!". Djurgården Fotboll (in Swedish). Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  3. ^ "New boss Willie Kirk hopes to keep Preston Athletic in Lowland League". East Lothian Courier. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Plant, Michael (28 June 2018). "Kirk's Journey to United". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Kirk: I Couldn't Turn Down Everton Opportunity". Everton F.C. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Everton Ladies Coaching Staff". Everton F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. ^ Hislop, John (29 June 2018). "Former Hibs' manager Willie Kirk joins Manchester United". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Willie Kirk Appointed New Ladies Manager". Everton F.C. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Willie Kirk leading the Everton revolution". The FA. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  10. ^ "Club Statement: Willie Kirk". Everton F.C. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "LCFC Women Appoint Willie Kirk As Director Of Football, Women & Girls". Leicester City F.C.
  12. ^ "Leicester: Willie Kirk replaces Lydia Bedford as Foxes boss". BBC Sport. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  13. ^ Wrack, Suzanne (8 March 2024). "Leicester Women investigate manager Willie Kirk over alleged player relationship". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ Garry, Tom (8 March 2024). "Leicester Women suspend manager Willie Kirk over alleged relationship with player". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ Allnutt, Tom (28 March 2024). "Leicester women's manager 'accused of having relationship with player'". The Times. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  16. ^ Taylor, Louise (26 March 2024). "Sarina Wiegman believes coach-player relationships are 'very inappropriate'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ^ de Roché, Art; Harpur, Charlotte (14 March 2024). "WSL managers say coaches who have relationships with their players should be sacked". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. ^ "Aston Villa boss Carla Ward says player-coach relationships are 'sackable offences'". Retrieved 28 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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