So it’s official – Fran Alonso has left his position at Celtic FC Women to take over the role of head coach at Houston Dash. He leaves after four years in Scotland after joining us from Lewes FC Women in January 2020.
He has brought success and potential to the club, winning Celtic their first silverware in ten years and their second major honour when his side lifted the SWPL League Cup in 2021. He went on to win the Scottish Cup in 2022 and 2023, as well as finishing second place twice in the SWPL.
Speaking to Celtic TV, Alonso said: “I was not born a Celtic supporter, but I will definitely die as one and I will support Celtic for the rest of my life.
“The Club, the team, the people and the Celtic community has been everything to me during the past four years and has lit up my life. It has been a wonderful adventure. The values, the spirit and the ethos of the Club has been everything to me and I am so proud to have held the position of Celtic manager.
“I am very sad to leave Celtic and it was a really hard decision to make. However, the new opportunity in America is one that I dreamt about since I started coaching in the women’s game and I know our Celtic supporters will understand.
“I would like to thank everyone at Celtic who has given me such brilliant support. How you all make us feel is indescribable. I would like to thank all the players over this four years who have given everything for me and for the badge, and also thank you to my backroom team who have always walked the extra mile to help the team, on and off the field.
“Thanks to the directors and management at Celtic who gave me the opportunity of coming here and, of course, thank you to the best fans, who have really supported us in the hard times, have been behind us no matter what, and created atmospheres that will stay in our memories for the rest of our lives.
“I leave knowing that the Celtic women’s team is in a much better place than when I first joined, and I am sure, with this terrific squad we have built, it will go from strength to strength.
“I wish the Club and the team all the success, I will always be supporting you from abroad. C’mon the Hoops!”
No hard feelings from myself or a large majority of Celtic fans as we see Fran out the door. He is a manager who I fell in love with his football from the second I saw Celtic Women play, and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on Houston Dash to see how our gaffer is getting on.
Celtic Chief Executive, Michael Nicholson, has said that the club is already working to find the Ghirls their next manager and that an announcement will be made as soon as possible. As always, The Celtic Star will be keeping you up to date on any developments.
Although it will be hard to move past the loss, we need to keep our minds set on winning this title race. We’re three points behind but we all need to get behind the Ghirls when domestic football returns after the winter break.
Tickets are on sale for our away trip to Ayr United on 7th January they can be purchased here. The game will take place at Townhead Park in Cumnock at 2pm as we begin our defence of the Scottish Cup.
Thanks for everything and good luck for the future Fran. You will always be welcome in Glasgow.
Jessica Elliott
Another symptom of the board in action, had he been financially backed to even half the tune of our rivals, he’d be going nowhere, and he’s a far better manager than either Glasgow City, or The Rangers have, such a pity, again.
One can only imagine what, ‘finding another manager ‘ means, not a lot I’d posit ,given how we pick them for the men’s team.