/** * https://gist.github.com/samthor/64b114e4a4f539915a95b91ffd340acc */ (function() { var check = document.createElement('script'); if (!('noModule' in check) && 'onbeforeload' in check) { var = false; document.addEventListener('beforeload', function(e) { if (e.target === check) { = true; } else if (!e.target.hasAttribute('nomodule') || !) { return; } e.preventDefault(); }, true); check.type = 'module'; check.src = '.'; document.head.appendChild(check); check.remove(); } }());

Casey Stoney: San Diego manager on working in United States away from family

San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney calls out to players during the play-off semi-finalsGetty Images

Casey Stoney ed NWSL side San Diego in 2021, two months after leading Manchester United to fourth place in the WSL

By Katie Wright
BBC Sport

Casey Stoney's debut season in the National Women's Soccer League couldn't have gone much better on the pitch. Off the pitch it's a different story altogether for the former England captain.

Having been appointed San Diego head coach in July 2021 after leaving her role as Manchester United manager, the 40-year-old led the new franchise to third place and a play-off semi-final, as well as breaking the league's 21-year crowd record along the way.

But her move to California has come at a personal cost.

She is now more than 5,000 miles away - and a 12-hour flight - from her partner and three children, who were unable to her because of visa issues.

"It wasn't planned this way," she tells BBC Sport. "If someone had said to me 'you've got a job but you've got to live without your family for 15 months, would you take it">