The FA’s plan to help Phil Neville turn the Lionesses into world-beaters is to receive a major boost with the addition of US Women’s National Team’s high performance coach Dawn Scott to his staff.
Scott spent nine years as head of sports science and exercise science for England women from 2001, beginning when there was no sports science programme.
She joined US Soccer in 2010, working first under Swedish manager Pia Sundhage then Jill Ellis. Described to NBC by two-times World Cup winner Christie Pearce as “the secret to everything,” Scott is widely regarded as having been a key part of the USWNT’s Olympic gold in 2012 and back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and this summer. She likes to build an almost intimate picture of each player she works with, from diet to sleep pattern to family.
Her departure has shocked fans and pundits in the US, with the new USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski having announced he would be retaining her services shortly after his unveiling as Ellis’s replacement.
The appointment is a major coup for Neville who has reportedly been a big admirer of the South Shields-born coach, who will start work at St George’s Park in December. The FA is sticking by Neville after a poor run which began with their World Cup semi-final exit to the US, and ended with last week’s unconvincing 3-2 defeat of the Czech Republic.
Neville said: “I am delighted we have secured Dawn’s services as she has worked and succeeded at the elite level and knows what it takes to win on the world stage.”
The addition of Scott, who also worked for the former US and Australia coach Tom Sermanni, as physical performance coach is a big boost as players look forward to a 2021 home Euros as well as contributing to Team GB’s campaign at next year’s Olympics. Scott is known for a focus on the necessity of making “marginal gains”, a concept Neville has put much store in since his appointment in 2018.
“This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make,” Scott said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with US Soccer.”
