Elena Sadiku has been appointed as Everton’s WSL Academy head coach.
An experienced former professional in the Swedish top-flight, the 29-year-old joins the Blues’ Academy on a maternity cover basis.
Sadiku – a former assistant manager of Brian Sorensen – brings elite experience to her role, having played and coached in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Now on Merseyside, the Swede hopes her track record of coaching at the top level can help inspire Everton’s upcoming stars.
“It feels fantastic to be here,” she told evertonfc.com.
“This is a really special club and it’s amazing to now be part of it.
“I've worked with the Brian at Fortuna Hjørring and we have spoken for some time about coming to England to help with this project. To play a part of it is incredibly exciting and I’m grateful to him and the Club for giving me this opportunity.
“I think the WSL is not only the most exciting, but also the very best league in the world right now.
“My job is to get the youth team going on and hopefully achieve my ambition of making this Academy the best then in this league.
“To achieve that is going to be a hard process, but it's a process that I’m really looking forward to.”
Sadiku’s appointment represents another exciting development in Everton's Academy, after Katie Rowson joined the Club earlier in the year as WSL Academy Technical Lead.
Sadiku says she is excited to work alongside Rowson, as the pair begin to lay the groundwork to ensure Everton is developing the country’s best talent.
“Together with Katie [Rowson], we will build a great foundation and then build upon it as time goes on,” she added.
“For me, it's just about doing my very best for this Club and giving the players the best possible opportunity to move into the senior squad.
“I think it’s important to refer to my own playing experience as well because I've been at the very best stage and in a very young age.
“My best attribute as a coach is that I bring in hard work. I'm dedicated to my work and when I have that mindset, I hope that will encourage the squad and spread that energy out to the players.
“I've been a professional player, so I know what it takes to become one, and I hope that I can inspire the girls and make them understand what you need to put in to become a successful athlete.”
