Women’s football is soaring to new heights, with record-breaking victories and growing global audiences. Yet, behind the scenes, a silent crisis is unfolding: talented female coaches are being left behind. The very systems designed to elevate coaching standards are inadvertently blocking women’s paths to leadership roles.
Take Mariana Cabral, for instance. With a résumé boasting stints at powerhouse clubs like Benfica and Sporting, she’s a coach any team would be lucky to have. But despite her impressive credentials, Cabral finds herself stuck in a frustrating limbo. The culprit? The elusive Pro Licence—a qualification increasingly demanded by top-tier women’s teams but nearly impossible for many female coaches to obtain.
Cabral holds an A Licence, but without the Pro Licence, she’s barred from senior head coach roles. This barrier forced her to step back into an assistant role in the US, where she spent a season with the Utah Royals. Even after leaving in December to broaden her experience, the Pro Licence remains out of reach. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about Cabral. Her story highlights a systemic issue that’s derailing countless careers.
But here’s where it gets controversial: The admission criteria for Pro Licence courses, set by UEFA and supplemented by national associations, often prioritize experience in men’s football. This bias, coupled with limited course availability and sky-high costs (up to €15,000), creates a near-insurmountable hurdle for women. Add to that the lack of a centralized application system, and you’ve got a recipe for frustration. Coaches are left scouring federation websites, piecing together fragmented information about eligibility, start dates, and even the language of instruction.
UEFA touts progress, reporting a 75% increase in female coaches with C, B, A, or Pro Licences over the past eight years, reaching 25,000 in 2024. Yet, Cabral’s experience tells a different story. ‘Why aren’t more women involved in coaching?’ she asks. ‘Because they try and they can’t.’ The bottleneck tightens at the highest levels, where spots on Pro Licence courses are scarce. ‘Ten years ago, those spots might have sufficed for men’s football,’ Cabral explains, ‘but women’s football has exploded, and the system hasn’t caught up.’
UEFA’s coaching convention aims to address this, reserving 10% of course spots for qualified female coaches. If fewer women meet the criteria, organizers can accept less-qualified candidates—but it’s not mandatory. Scholarships exist, but they’re not enough to unclog the pipeline. Cabral’s own journey illustrates the problem: rejected from courses in Portugal and Wales, she’s now in a race against time to secure her Pro Licence.
‘I had to leave my contract with Utah Royals,’ she shares. ‘Staying would’ve been comfortable, but I’d still be in the same place. I want to grow.’ Her willingness to work in the US or Europe underscores her dedication, but she’s not alone in her struggle. Many female coaches are paused in their careers, waiting for a chance to enroll in these courses. Some, like Cabral’s peers in Portugal, step away to start families, only to find re-entry even harder. Others settle for part-time roles or abandon coaching altogether.
And then there’s the issue of working conditions—another familiar barrier in women’s football. Cabral recounts her time at Sporting, where she led the team to a stunning Champions League qualifier win over Eintracht Frankfurt, followed by a victory against Breidablik. Yet, she and her players ‘suffered a lot’ fighting for basic resources. ‘I’m outspoken and ambitious,’ she admits, ‘but pushing for better conditions is exhausting. When a club is doing okay, they don’t want to invest in the women’s team.’
Her decision to leave Sporting wasn’t made lightly. ‘Having to fight every day for basics—a decent pitch, a place to change—takes a mental toll,’ she explains. ‘You walk into a room, and you can feel the irritation. It’s not about demanding millions; it’s about asking for the bare minimum.’
Cabral’s story is a call to action. While UEFA’s efforts are a step in the right direction, they’re not enough. The system must evolve to meet the demand for female coaches, ensuring that talent isn’t lost to red tape and bias. Is it fair that women’s football thrives on the pitch but falters in the coaching ranks? What changes would you propose to level the playing field? Let’s spark a conversation—because the future of women’s football depends on it.
