Pedro Martinez Losa has been appointed Scotland Women’s National Team Head Coach ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying campaign.

The 45-year-old Spaniard has signed a three-year contract with the Scottish FA and will start on 1 August having coached household names in women’s football and experienced success across the globe.

Pedro recently led FC Girondins de Bordeaux Women to a second successive third place finish in D1 Féminine, securing Champions League qualification for the first time in the club’s history after finishing behind Lyon and Paris Saint Germain last season.

The UEFA Pro Licence holder spent two years in France following a one-year spell as Director of Football & General Manager of London City Lionesses, which followed a three-year period as head coach of Arsenal Women.

During his time in charge of Arsenal, Pedro delivered Continental Cup and FA Cup success, whilst coaching Scotland players Caroline Weir, Christie Murray, Kim Little, Lisa Evans and Emma Mitchell. He also laid the foundations for the club’s current success by signing key players such as Daniëlle van de Donk and Vivianne Miedema.

With more than 20 years’ coaching experience, the 45-year-old has worked with household names in the women’s game including Carli Lloyd and Abby Wambach at Western New York Flash.

Prior to his move to the United States, Pedro achieved unprecedented success in his homeland, winning the Spanish Women’s La Liga on three consecutive occasions between 2009 and 2011 with Rayo Vallecano Femenino, as well as the 2008 Copa de la Reina. During that period he also led the side in the Women’s Champions League.

His first match in charge of the Scotland Women’s National Team will be on Friday, 17 September in Hungary before a home game against Faroe Islands four days later. Scotland are aiming to reach their second successive FIFA World Cup and are also joined in a group with Spain and Ukraine.

Pedro Martinez Losa, Scotland Women’s National Team Head Coach: “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to coach a women’s national team so today represents a tremendous honour for me as I take charge of Scotland.

“I have admired from afar in recent years, watching a talented group of players take their nation to two back-to-back major championships and it’s now my job to ensure the team return to that stage.

“Scotland have an abundance of international talent alongside a well balanced mix of youth and experience throughout the squad, which was one of the main aspects which attracted me to the job.

“I want to achieve success on the pitch to inspire the next generation of female players in this country. I understand women’s football is growing rapidly in Scotland and I want to spearhead that with victories on the pitch.

“There is a promising journey ahead for the team and I can’t wait to get started ahead of the matches against Hungary and Faroe Islands.”

Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive: “Pedro’s CV is extremely impressive and following an extensive recruitment process, his experience of women’s football across the globe set him apart from the field.

“In a coaching career spanning more than 20 years, Pedro has succeeded in Spain, the United States, England and France and joins the Scottish FA with a set of attributes which will allow Scotland to fulfil their enormous potential.

“With the new women’s and girls’ strategy set to be released later this week, Pedro’s appointment will re-energise the game in Scotland and ensure it returns to the forefront of people’s minds ahead of an exciting qualification campaign where we aim to again grace the biggest stage in women’s football at the FIFA World Cup.”

Twitter image: joshjdss (Arsenal Ladies Vs Notts County) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons