Brian Sorensen appointed Ireland women's assistant coach

The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that Brian Sorensen will join the Republic of Ireland women's national team as assistant coach. Sorensen, a 46-year-old Dane and former Everton manager, will work alongside head coach Carla Ward during the upcoming 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying play-offs.

Sorensen is expected to join the squad for the two-legged play-off series against Kazakhstan in October. If Ireland progresses, they will face either Belgium or Poland in late 2026. Sorensen will balance this new role with his current position as technical adviser at Aston Villa.

Ward described Sorensen as a “great fit” who will bring significant coaching expertise to the team. His appointment follows the departure of Gary Cronin in August and comes as Ward seeks to stabilize her technical staff after several assistant coaching changes over the past 13 months.