Southampton confirm appointment of Remi Allen as head coach

Southampton Women have appointed former Reading and Birmingham City midfielder Remi Allen as their new head coach ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Allen, 33, has represented several clubs throughout her 16-year playing career, including Leicester City, Aston Villa, Reading and, most recently, Birmingham City. While playing for the Blues last season, the midfielder also took on a role as assistant coach for England Women’s Under-23s as part of the England Elite Coach Programme.

This will be Allen’s first full-time head coach role, however, she did take on an interim job at London City Lionesses in the latter stages of the last campaign. Despite joining them on a short-term contract in March, she won the manager of the month award that same month and helped guide the club out of a relegation battle with three consecutive wins in her first three games.

"I am absolutely delighted to be on board with such an incredible football club," Allen said upon joining. "It’s such an exciting time to be here, the club has huge ambition, and the group of players here are such a talented group. 

"I can’t wait to get started on the journey; it’s going to be an exciting season ahead."

Southampton confirmed in April that former first team manager Marieanne Spacey-Cale would be stepping down from her role in order to focus on the wider women’s and girls’ programme at St Mary’s. 

Now her successor has been confirmed, Spacey-Cale said: "We’re delighted to welcome Remi to the club as she becomes our new Head Coach, and we begin the next stage of our journey. Remi is an exciting, young coach with both recent playing experience and a passion to succeed in the early stages of her transition to management. 

"She brings energy and fresh ideas that I believe our players will thrive on, and I look forward to seeing her begin working with the team ahead of the new season."

Southampton will be one of a number of Championship clubs pushing for a place in the WSL next season. Following their promotion to the second tier in 2022, the south coast club finished sixth and fourth in their first two seasons.

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