Chelsea FC Women is delighted to announce the appointment of Tanya Oxtoby as assistant coach. She moves to Chelsea following a three-and-a-half-year spell at Bristol City Women.
Oxtoby joins Emma Hayes and her backroom staff just in time for the start of the 2021/22 season, which begins this Sunday 5 September against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
‘To be joining such an illustrious team of players and staff is a true honour,' said Oxtoby.
'I always said it would take something special for me to end my maternity leave early, and when this opportunity arose, and after to speaking to Emma and Paul, it felt like the ideal move for me. I’m looking forward to working not only with world-class players, but the amazingly talented staff at the club and being able to contribute to further success.’
A qualified sports psychologist, the Australian is also a UEFA A-Licence coach and comes with a wealth of experience, featuring on the pitch for a number of Australian clubs, most notably at Perth Glory in the W-League. Oxtoby went on to join Chelsea Women’s general manager Paul Green at Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2012, where she played against Chelsea in Hayes’ first-ever game in charge.
The defender transitioned into coaching with Notts County Ladies, ahead of joining Birmingham City Ladies as assistant coach in 2017 before her most recent appointment as team manager at Bristol City Women.
Chelsea Women general manager Paul Green added: ‘We are pleased to add Tanya to our coaching team. She is a coach with considerable experience in the WSL and a good track record of developing players.
‘We feel that she will add another dimension to our talented group, both on and off the pitch, that will impact the team.
‘We look forward to having Tanya join us.’
Welcome to Chelsea, Tanya!