Paul Smalley

Paul Smalley has served in many high-profile positions in women’s soccer: assistant national coach for the England women’s national team, and lead coach for the New Zealand, Brunei and Asian women’s national and age-group teams. He has led USA, New Zealand and Australian female club age-group teams in major European, Oceania, Asian, FIFA and world tournaments and club competitions, winning trophies, qualifying teams and achieving historical accolades.

Paul’s experience extends to technical director for the New Zealand Football Federation, the Bangladesh Football Federation and the Maldives Football Association, and advisor to the Korean Football Federation, Premier League clubs and Football Federation Australia. He has also been head of youth at Portsmouth Football Club in the English Premier League and senior head coach of the Brunei senior men’s national team.

Before coaching, Paul had a successful 14-year playing career in the UK, appearing in more than 300 games and representing England at youth level, followed by success as a manager and coach in club football.

He has a coach-education background that allows him to direct courses from grassroots to the professional game, and has delivered accredited courses, workshops and seminars for UEFA, AFC, OFC, CONCACAF and governing bodies of sport and education across Oceania, Asia, Africa and Europe — developing coaching instructors as well as coaches. He is a university graduate, academic researcher, writer and podcast pioneer, and holds the FA/UEFA Academy Directors Licence.

With SPIRE since October 2022. Hometown: Nottingham, United Kingdom.