England Women coach Mark Sampson shortlisted for FIFA award

30 November 2015 03:16

England Women head coach Mark Sampson has been included on a shortlist of three for the FIFA World Coach of the Year.

The 33-year-old Lionesses coach joins Jill Ellis of the United States and Japan's Norio Sasaki in contention for the prestigious accolade.

Cardiff-born Sampson guided England to third place at the World Cup in Canada earlier this year, where England suffered a heart-breaking defeat in the semi-finals to Japan following an injury-time own goal by Laura Bassett.

Victory over Germany - for the first time in 21 games - in the third-place play-off meant England finished as the highest-ranked nation in Europe.

Sampson worked as head of Swansea's centre of excellence from 2007 until 2009, with current Everton manager Roberto Martinez then in charge of the first team.

A spell as manager of Welsh Football League club Taff's Well followed, before Sampson took over at Bristol Academy in the FA Women's Premier League, leading them to runners-up in the 2013 season.

Following his appointment to the England job, the Lionesses went on to win the 2015 Cyprus Cup as they built up to the World Cup, which was eventually won by the US.

England ended 2015 with a 1-0 defeat of Bosnia-Herzegovina at Ashton Gate in their Euro 2017 qualifier.

Source: PA