Sunday 14 June 2015 15:32, UK
Casey Stoney has all the ingredients required to become a top manager, according to former Arsenal Ladies boss Shelley Kerr.
Kerr lured the 33-year-old back to Arsenal in 2014 where the pair won the FA Women’s Cup before Kerr departed the club to take charge of men’s Scottish Lowland League side Stirling University.
Stoney was awarded an MBE for her services to football in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list earlier this week and Kerr says working with the 119-cap England defender was an “absolute privilege.”
“Casey is very humble despite everything that she’s achieved in the game,” Kerr told Sky Sports.
“She’s had ups and downs in her career as most professional footballers do but I think she has been a total model professional and an absolute role model.
“She gives advice to young players, she’s a natural winner and she’s a natural leader. For me she has got all the attributes required to be a successful manager and I definitely think the English FA should invest in someone like that.
“When I spoke to her before she signed for Arsenal I thought to myself she was exactly the type of player I wanted to work with. She’s hard-working and she’s a very honest person and I have to say it was an absolute privilege to work with her.”
She gives advice to young players, she’s a natural winner and she’s a natural leader. For me she has got all the attributes required to be a successful manager.
Stoney is yet to feature in England’s Women’s World Cup campaign but Kerr insists the Arsenal skipper’s presence is invaluable to manager Mark Sampson and his young squad at Canada 2015.
“I can’t speak for Mark but for me personally, when you go into the biggest competition the girls are likely to play in, you need experience,” Kerr said.
“You need players who have been there and done it and Casey has so much experience. To have her in and around the squad - especially for the young players to feed of - is really important I think.”
