Lydia Bedford to coach Brentford's U-18s in big move toward Premier League gender parity

Bedford's is one of precious few female coaching appointments in the Premier League, but it comes at a time when the skill levels of female soccer operators have never been higher.

England's women won the European championships this summer on under the tutelage of a female coach and general manager, and just a few short months ago U Chicago's Julianne Sitch became the first woman to lead a male soccer team to an NCAA title.

Brentford's clever acquisition of Bedford — a proven operator with deep youth coaching experience for club and country — shows that the club is wise to the changing tides in sport, and interested in securing the strongest coaches regardless of gender.

For Bedford, the move to Brentford is a huge opportunity. It's a club that has long valued its youth system and recently expanded it with the goal of reaching European competition in the coming years. 

Men's head coach Thomas Frank started in a role similar to Bedford's and was eventually promoted into the top job. He is beloved by fans and players alike, and considered one of the sharpest coaches in the Premier League.

He'll find a willing partner in Bedford, someone that Leicester leader Susan Whelan referred to as "one of the rising stars in the women's game."

The 2023 Premier League season came to a close last weekend, with Brentford finishing in a creditable eighth place. Bedford will join over the summer to help the London-based club prepare for a European charge in the 2024 season.