Ian Willcock to leave United Women

Women’s goalkeeping coach Ian Willcock will leave Manchester United at the end of the season, to take up the corresponding position with the Canada Women’s national team.

Willcock has been United Women’s goalkeeping coach since the team’s reformation in 2018 and is set to pursue an exciting career opportunity elsewhere in the summer, after seven years of high-quality service in Manchester.

The move will see ‘Willco’ reunite with former Reds boss Casey Stoney, who first brought him to the club as a member of her coaching staff and is now in charge of the Canadian team.

Ian has been a highly regarded member of United’s coaching team ever since joining the club and has played an instrumental role in the history made by the Reds over the last seven seasons.

While looking to positively impact the younger keepers in our Girls Academy, his main responsibility has seen him work with our women’s first-team shot-stoppers on a day-to-day basis, helping to drive league-leading standards for the position.

Under his stewardship, United notably conceded just seven times in 20 matches en route to lifting the Championship title in 2018/19 and later set a Women’s Super League clean-sheets record in 2022/23, stopping the opposition from scoring an unprecedented 14 times in 22 games.

That run helped Mary Earps, who joined Paris Saint-Germain last summer, to claim the division’s Golden Glove award either side of winning The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper accolade for 2022 and 2023 – two personal prizes among many that she referenced Willcock’s contribution to upon receiving.

Earps then celebrated team success with Willco when the Reds won our first major women’s trophy, the FA Cup, at Wembley Stadium last May and the latter has since overseen Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s impressive emergence as our first-choice goalkeeper this season.

Tullis-Joyce’s 10 WSL clean sheets in 2024/25 is a division-high tally and, in a recent interview with club media, the American talked up the renowned goalkeepers’ union here that has helped her to thrive – a culture that she says has been fostered by Willcock.

“The bond is definitely special here, I think that starts with Willco,” our no.91 said. “He creates an environment where we know our personalities can shine and that’s what I hope you see on the field too.”

Phallon’s season so far Video

Phallon’s season so far

Phallon Tullis-Joyce talks us through some of her standout moments from 2024/25 so far, with success in our sights…

Willcock will now be looking to help our goalkeepers finish the season strongly, before linking up with a Canada squad that could include United defender Jayde Riviere and midfielder Simi Awujo.

While his incredible knowledge of the game and friendly personality will be missed around Carrington and Leigh Sports Village, everyone at the club would like to wish Willco the very best for his upcoming chapter.

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