LONDON, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Manchester United has appointed Casey Stoney as head coach of the club's new professional women's team, the English Premier League giants announced on Friday.
Casey, 36, a former international defender and captain, has earned 130 caps for the England women's national team and winning 12 major trophies during her playing career. Casey retired from playing earlier this year and after completing her coaching badges, she has been pivotal as an assistant coach to the Lionesses.
"I am delighted to have joined Manchester United," said Stoney. "This is the biggest club in the world. The fact that we are going to have a women's team and I'm going to be able to introduce that from scratch, to build a team, build a philosophy, with the biggest club in the world, means that, for me, there is no more exciting opportunity.
"My ultimate aim is to grow this team so that every little girl growing up dreams of playing for Manchester United when she's older, because they're the most successful team in women's football."
The Red Devil's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said: "Casey will build on the success of the girls' Regional Talent Club and share our philosophy of creating a pathway from academy to first team."
