Lydia Bedford has returned to the FA as head coach of England Women's under-23s, describing it as a "full circle moment." The 38-year-old began her coaching career with the Football Association and has managed several youth teams before becoming the first woman to hold a coaching position at a Premier League club with Brentford's academy.

Bedford's senior management experience includes Leicester City and Calgary Wild, plus an assistant role at Arsenal. She was sacked six games into her second season at Leicester despite avoiding relegation the previous year. The wide-ranging role at Calgary Wild saw her serve as sporting director, head of recruitment, and head coach simultaneously.

"I've always wanted to be England manager one day," Bedford said. She'll work closely with Sarina Wiegman at St George's Park, aiming to develop players who can help win the Women's World Cup. "I can really focus on orchestrating and pulling that together," she added, emphasizing her desire to learn from the three-time European champion.