Casey Stoney played down the possibility of managing Britain at next summer’s reorganized Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The Manchester United Women boss, who captained the GB squad in London 2020, says she is focused on her commitments with the club.
Football Association is yet to announce who will lead Britain at the Games, which were put back to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic." data-reactid="14">The Football Association has yet to announce who will lead Britain to the Games, postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stoney (back row, fourth left) captained Great Britain in London 2012 (Andrew Matthews / PA)
England coach Phil Neville would have done the job had the Games played out as planned this summer, but will step down at the end of his contract next July. His successor Sarina Wiegman will not take over until her Olympic commitments with the Dutch national team are over.
The Olympics will take place from 23 July to 8 August. Inviting Neville to participate in the Games is still a possibility but, announcing Wiegman’s appointment last week, the FA said a decision regarding the Olympics would be made “in due course”.
This raised the prospect of a short-term date but Stoney, who previously worked as Neville’s assistant, doesn’t seem to be interested.
“My future and my commitment are to this club,” Stoney, who is preparing United for their second season in the Women’s Super League, said at the media briefing. “Every summer is important in terms of recruiting and construction.
“It would be a fantastic opportunity for anyone to take it. I was captain at the home Olympics and it is an incredible experience.
football, (but) I think for me my commitment is here.”" data-reactid="40">“As a head coach or anyone involved in that, it’s a great experience to prepare a team for a short breakthrough in the football tournament, (but) I think my commitment is here for me.”
Sarina Wiegman to succeed Phil Neville in 2021 (Richard Sellers / PA)
Stoney is impressed by the appointment of Wiegman, who led the Netherlands to Euro 2017 glory and the 2019 World Cup final.
Stoney, who has won 130 caps in England, said: “He has a great track record, he knows how to make a team win. It will be exciting for England’s dressing room.
“How the Dutch dressing room will feel right now I’m not sure – with a year to go and an Olympics to play in – but I have to say it’s exciting and I hope it can keep the team going.”
Under Stoney, United finished fourth in the shortened WSL last season, the first since securing promotion to the top flight.
Stoney wants to bring United into WSL top three (Anthony Devlin / PA)
Stoney, whose team opened the new season at home against the Chelsea champions on 6 September, said: “We are still very young on our journey.
“To get into the top three we have to be more consistent – even keeping fourth place will be difficult because everyone has strengthened – but it has to be our goal.
“We may not necessarily achieve it, but it can be our goal. I think we have enough on our team now, we are developing continuously. We have exciting young players and experience on our team. “
