Bristol City appoint Leicester coach Stephen Kirby as they target WSL return

The Women’s Championship club Bristol City have appointed Leicester’s first-team coach Stephen Kirby as their head coach.

It is understood Kirby greatly impressed senior staff at Bristol City across three rounds of interviews during the process to find a replacement for Lauren Smith, who stepped down in August to become the England Under-19 head coach.

This is Kirby’s first managerial role in a career which has included spells coaching at MK Dons in youth development. “It is super-exciting and I am ready to kick on and try and get us back to the WSL,” he said.

Kirby’s first game will be Sunday’s league trip to big-spending London City Lionesses. Bristol City have had success in hiring coaches with experience as assistants who are ambitious about taking the next steps, such as Smith – who oversaw their promotion in 2023 – and the now Northern Ireland manager, Tanya Oxtoby.

Bristol City were relegated from the WSL in April and are targeting an immediate return. They have two points from their opening two fixtures against two potential promotion rivals, away to Southampton and at home to Birmingham City.

Those results came under the interim head coach, Loren Dykes, who worked under Smith and will continue on the staff under Kirby. Club officials are understood to be excited about the style of play Kirby is aspiring to.