Three finalists announced for WSU Coach Award Presented by TeamSnap! Voting now open.

Congratulations to Anouk Bruil, Katayoun Khosrowyar and Liga Patupa who are shortlisted for the WSU Coach Award Presented by TeamSnap! It is time to vote for your winner!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate an inspiring coach around the world.

It is now up to the public to decide who should be the winner of the first global edition of the WSU Coach Award. Kelsey Fenix won the US edition in 2017 and Chris Berry picked up the award in the UK edition in 2016.

VOTING CLOSED

Winner to be announced on Saturday 9 June 2018.

Meet your WSU Coach Award Finalists:

Anouk Bruil

Anouk Bruil is the youngest ever Assistant trainer of SC Heerenveen, who compete in the Netherlands Women’s Eredivisie, Bruil has held the role for 4 years.

At the same time, Anouk was Assistant Trainer/Coach of the SC Heerenveen Youth women’s team for 3 years during which she won the Championship!

At just 23 years old, Bruil is the youngest trainer/coach in the Dutch women’s competitions. Two weeks before, she passed all exam’s to earn her UEFA Coach A license.

Her skills include being a hard motivator, a good communicator, open mind and always looking to improve the football training, and matches with which she brings a lot of pleasure and enthusiasm.

Bruil is described as a brave, young trainer/coach. Very motivated in the job which she is doing. She knows what she is doing, she knows what she wants and she knows how to work with the all the different age woman’s/girls on the pitch with success and pleasure! She has everything what is needed to be a good trainer, inspirational coach and a fantastic person!

Thank you to Ann Mor for the nomination.

Katayoun Khosrowyar

Katayoun Khosrowyar grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As an Iranian-American she has been able to bring her own “revolution” to Iran. It’s a beautiful story that has allowed her to shape the national landscape of Iranian women’s football.

Post- Iran’s revolution, Iran’s first women’s national team discovered Kat. This started her journey to empower Iranian women in football.

In 2014, she was the first Iranian woman to have earned a FIFA/AFC “A” license. At such a young age, she has been able to inspire many girls to pursue their dream of playing football. Despite, all the political climaxes within Iran and outside the country. It isn’t easy for these girls to wear hijabs and be ridiculed for it, but she has allowed them to dream and push through all these political barriers.

In a country such as Iran with all the political interferences. Kat has opened up many doors for future generation of girls through her tenacity and persistent. Few of her girls have received offers from Europe.

In addition, Kat not only manages the U-19 side of Iran’s women’s national team, but advises the U-16/U-14 side as well. She is doing the job of three or more people simply because she believes she can create a pathway for a better future for these girls.

Furthermore, she has build communications and bridges with other nations to empower more women in various other countries. This lady single-handedly has been able to build a better relationship with the United States through football. This by itself is great for diplomacy.

Lastly, a country that still does not allow women to enter stadiums.It is outstanding how she has been able to cope with the politics and still believe she can make an impact on Iranian women.

The work Kat is doing is described as absolutely sensational and it is believed that many other coaches across the globe would not be able to handle the issues she has fought to face and that in itself shows the true character of this amazing individual.

Thank you to Pasha Hajian for the nomination.

Liga Patupa

Liga Patupa has played for Riga United senior team since it was created, she is in her fifth straight season but now as a player coach.

Liga has coached with Riga United kids academy since it was formed in 2013.

She has coached young beginners classes for boys and girls groups. In the past few seasons she has developed herself by taking her badges and is now UEFA B qualified.

In 2017 Liga, along with one other female senior player, joined the five person board of Riga United and has been working tirelessly for the club. We believe Riga United might be the only football club in the Baltics with two female players on its board.

She travelled to Bayern Munich in 2017 where she spent a few days with the Bayern Munich Ladies team developing herself.

For the 2018 season, Liga has become head coach of the senior ladies team playing in the Latvian Premier League, She lost her first game in charge 3-1 against the current champions and Champions League representatives RFS and in her second match, the team won 7-1 away.

Liga has dedicated herself to Riga United FC as a player, academy coach, board member and now as ladies head coach. Positive, passionate and very hard working. She has helped enable Riga United to develop as the most cosmopolitan and inclusive football club in the Baltic states.

Thank you to Justin Walley for your nomination.