Wenger: give women a chance

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Thursday led the support for Helena Costa, who is set to become the top women's coach in the leading European leagues.

"I like it," Wenger said at an Arsenal media conference in London. "There are men managing women, why should women not manage men?

"The only thing I was always a big defender of in my life is to defend competence. If you are competent, you get the job anywhere.

"Having looked at her experience, the only restrictions you could have is she has very little experience as a coach but maybe she has top qualities and will show that.

"It's good that girls have a chance to manage men, so why not?"

Costa's appointment has been widely welcomed from top politicians in France to Sepp Blatter, head of soccer's world governing body, FIFA.

UEFA president Michel Platini called for soccer to become more "open" and said, "I hope that this news inspires more women to pursue their dreams".

He said women should get more top-level opportunities in soccer, including as leaders and coaches.

In France, the male-dominated soccer world accepted Costa must be given a chance.

"A little femininity in a world of brutes, it's not bad," said Jocelyn Gourvennec, coach of French first division side Guingamp.

"It is going in the direction of parity, like in politics and business. It is a beautiful gamble and a good signal to the (soccer) world," he said.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/10/2014 page15)