29 Facts About Hope Powell

Hope Powell was the coach of the England women's national football team and the Great Britain women's Olympic football team until August 2013.

Hope Powell made her England debut at the age of 16, and went on to play in the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, England's first World Cup appearance.

At club level Hope Powell played in four FA Women's Cup finals and captained Croydon to a League and Cup double in 1996.

Hope Powell led the team at the 2001,2005,2009 and 2013 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship.

Hope Powell was a player at the former and coach at the latter.

In May 2009 Hope Powell's administration implemented central contracts, to help players focus on full-time training and playing, without having to fit it around full-time employment.

In 2003 Hope Powell became the first woman to achieve the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification available.

Hope Powell made newspaper headlines when FA rules banned her from representing her school team beyond the age of 11.

Hope Powell moved on to play club football for Millwall Lionesses when she reached 11.

Hope Powell was one of six Croydon players who represented England at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Hope Powell had agreed to take over as England coach and retired from playing.

Aged 17, Hope Powell played in the final of the 1984 European Competition for Women's Football as England were beaten by Sweden on penalties.

Hope Powell had passed the FA's preliminary coaching award at the age of 19.

Hope Powell had been a volunteer coach at soccer camps in the United States.

At 31 Hope Powell became the youngest ever coach of any England national football team, as well as the first woman and the first non-white person to hold the office.

On 26 July 1998 Hope Powell managed England for the first time in a friendly against Sweden at Victoria Road, Dagenham.

Hope Powell described the situation as "very much do-or-die" since a substantial reduction in funding was at stake.

In 2003 Hope Powell became the first woman to be awarded the UEFA Pro Licence, studying alongside Stuart Pearce.

Hope Powell had become England coach in 1998, and led the national team to the final of Euro 2009 where they lost to Germany.

Hope Powell controversially attributed "cowardice" to the players who had failed to volunteer to take a penalty.

Hope Powell criticised Powell's role in the international retirement of his wife Pauline Cope and suggested that anyone could match or surpass Powell's achievements, given a similar level of support.

On 20 August 2013, Hope Powell was sacked as manager of the England women's team.

On 19 May 2023, it was announced that Hope Powell would join the England men's U20s as a technical advisor at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Hope Powell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2002 Birthday Honours for services to association football, and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to sport.

Hope Powell was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of East London in 2011.

Hope Powell was born and raised in London to a family of Jamaican descent.

In 1990 Hope Powell graduated from Brunel University in London with a degree in Sport Science and History.

Hope Powell's entry was redacted from the online version of the article and her name was absent from the 2011 and 2012 lists.

Hope Powell was included in a rival World Pride Power List compiled by Square Peg Media in association with The Guardian; reaching fifth place in 2011 and 48th place in 2012.