Wilkinson was hired as Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Team Head Coach in August 2019. Upon her retirement as a player in 2017, she worked for Canada Soccer’s Elite Player Elite Coach programme, before serving as Head Coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite program, which served as one of three Canada Soccer Super Excel Centres across the country. With the Women’s National Team, she was an Assistant Coach at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship and at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. She also served as Head Coach at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018 when Canada posted a best-ever fourth-place finish.
“Canada Soccer would like to thank Rhian for her many years of dedication and commitment to our Women’s National Team Program as both a player and staff member,” said Dr. Nick Bontis, Canada Soccer President. “As part of a core group of veteran players who transitioned through Canada Soccer’s Women Leading Women legacy initiative of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, the two-time Olympic bronze medalists’ contributions as a coach at both the Youth and National Team levels will be felt for years to come. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.”
As a player,
\u200bWilkinson spent 15 years on the Women’s National Team and won the 2010 Concacaf
\u200bWomen’s Championship as well as back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and
\u200b2016. In all, she participated at four FIFA Women’s World Cups, three Olympic
\u200bFootball Tournaments and won medals at all six Concacaf tournaments and all
\u200bthree Pan American Games in which played. A six-time Québec Soccer Player of
\u200bthe Year, she made 181 international “A” appearances and recorded seven goals
\u200band 23 assists.
“This was not an
\u200beasy decision as this team has been my family for the past 20 years and I plan
\u200bto continue to learn and grow in the next stage of my career,” said Rhian
\u200bWilkinson. “I wish Head Coach Bev Priestman and the entire women’s team every
\u200bsuccess and I look forward to watching this incredible team kick on to even
\u200bgreater heights than they have already achieved.”