Scotland Women's Football Team

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Pedro Martinez Losa has taken charge of Mexican side Tigres Femenil - just a week after his Scotland sacking.

The 48-year-old Spaniard was dismissed after play-off defeat by Finland cost Scotland qualification for Euro 2025.

It was a second failed attempt to reach a major tournament under Martinez Losa.

Tigres are currently second in the Mexican top flight, which gets back under way next month. Pedro Martinez's first game in charge is set to be on 7 January against Tijuana.

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"You start looking over your shoulder. You think, do things come in threes? What else is going to happen?"

Scotland and Aston Villa defender Rachel Corsie has been reflecting on a "very hard week" in which both her national team and club managers were sacked.

Pedro Martinez Losa paid the price for Scotland's failure to qualify for Euro 2025 when he was dismissed on 13 December, two days after Robert de Pauw left Villa following a six-month spell in charge.

"It has felt a very hard week. As a player you just have to go into that mode, we [Villa] also had midweek fixtures last week," said Corsie on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast.

"You just have to rally and galvanise the players together. Being apart from Scotland, you touch base with as many people as you can or that have reached out to you.

"From a club perspective you're a little more in the thick of it, so it's been a difficult week with people losing their job around Christmas time. Any time is bad but [especially] around this time when you're building into a Christmas break.

"The [Villa] team managed to get a win on Wednesday night and a win on Sunday which has just slightly helped some of those heavy feelings.

"It's not been a nice week for me personally. As a player, in a tough way you almost have to put those emotions to the side."

Corsie has yet to make her playing comeback after knee surgery in early October.

She added: "With me being out injured it's helped me fulfil that role of trying to keep the players all together and just focus on the task ahead because I'm not in the emotional ups and downs of team selection and playing in the games where we've not had the results we would have liked to have had.

"I've tried to be that support, and the players have dealt with it really well."

Scotland skipper Rachel Corsie and former midfielder Leanne Crichton discuss the search for a new head coach to replace the sacked Pedro Martinez Losa.

Listen and subscribe to the Behind the Goals podcast on BBC Sounds

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Leanne Ross has stressed her "focus is with Glasgow City" amid links to the current Scotland vacancy.

The former international was a key figure in Pedro Martinez Losa's coaching staff and has been at the centre of speculation surrounding his successor.

However, the 43-year-old emphasised her commitment to club football.

"I'm focussed on my job here at Glasgow City, that's always been the case," Ross told BBC Scotland.

"The national team, I love being involved with, but for me I am the Glasgow City manager."

Martinez Losa left his position as Scotland head coach on Friday following a second failure to reach a major tournament and Ross underlined the importance of returning to the top table under the next boss.

"We need to follow the process which is now in place and make sure we get the right person in place," she added.

"We need to make sure we get the best out the players we have going forward because we need to get back into major tournaments.

"The players we have right now have to be playing on the biggest stage."

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Pedro Martinez Losa's disappointing reign as Scotland boss came after defeat by a Finland side three places lower in the rankings, albeit the relative positions were skewed by the Scots' recent fixtures being against lesser opposition while Marko Saloranta's side were being relegated from the tougher League A.

His exit seemed inevitable given Scotland's failure to qualify for a third consecutive major finals, their second during his watch.

Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton thinks questions were always going to be asked given the Spaniard had been tasked with ending that major tournament drought.

"For Pedro, it was a mixed bag," she told BBC Scotland. "If you look at some of the achievements and identity of the team, it started to change and at points it looked really positive, but for any national team manager, it's getting to major tournaments and, when you don't do that, ultimately it looks like a failure.

"In the world that we live in now with football, there's always an expectation that managers will lose their job if they don't deliver the remit expected of them."

We asked for your thoughts on Pedro Martinez Losa's sacking and who you think should replace him as Scotland boss.

Here's what you had to say:

Hugh: Should have been done sooner. We would have qualified. As for golden generation. No way. We have far better players to pick from.

Ian: It's about time, he should have left a lot earlier. The manager position should definitely go to Duncan Ferguson.

David M: They have been absolutely horrible to watch and Martinez Losa should have been let go after the Republic of Ireland game. That game told you he never had a clue on changing games when they were not going your way, tactically inept.

David H: It was long overdue, he has underperformed and failed to get the best out of probably our best group of players ever. Time for a young female head coach who knows how to get best out of our best players and play with attitude and attack. Maybe Jo Potter or Elena Sadiku, although suspect they'll go for Leanne Ross which is a backward step, my outside bet is Eileen Gleeson.

Kevin: A long time coming, I said months ago when he was available to go get Scott Booth. Would he leave Aberdeen so soon now though?

Colin: I sincerely hope the SFA don't take seven months to find a replacement like they did last time.

Paul: The people who decided to give him a contract extension should also go. Clear out the SFA dinosaurs.

Anon: We should be appointing guys like Grant Scott and Scott Booth, they both understand Scottish women's football.

Les: The SFA need to be far more careful when handing out management contracts. This entire affair is going to cost a lot of money that should be used to grow the women's game.

Desmond: About time he went. Football has been terrible. There are players who should never be wearing a Scotland jersey.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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The Scottish FA are looking for a new head coach for the women's national side after sacking Pedro Martinez Losa.

It's hard to know how the governing body will play this. Will they be open to another foreign recruit or look closer to home? Finances could also come into play.

With this in mind, let's look some early runners and riders.

Leanne Ross: Probably the obvious choice. The current Glasgow City head coach won 133 caps and would command respect from the players.

The squad know her well as she was part of the coaching staff under Martinez Losa, although whether that helps or hinders her as a contender remains to be seen.

She has moved into full-time football coaching with ease and has plenty of drive and desire for success.

Mick McArdle: Currently the girl's and women's performance manager, part of his remit involves enabling a smooth transition into the full national squad.

So he knows what he's looking for in a player and has knowledge of what the national team need. He has worked in Scottish football for almost three decades with St Mirren, Falkirk and Ayr United and recently has been coaching the Scotland Under-19s and 23s.

Brian Graham: A relative rookie within women's football, but the Partick Thistle women's boss - who is also a striker with the men's team - has imprinted an identity on his part-time squad as they punch above their weight against sides with superior budgets.

Thistle's results under him speak volumes - two back-to-back top-six finishes and an appearance in a League Cup final.

Grant Scott: Is overseeing Hibernian's transition from a part-time to full time-club, and making a success of it. Having coached at a variety of Scottish clubs, Scott is full of experience and knowledge of the women's game in Scotland and beyond.

He's not afraid to give youth a chance, allowing his squad to play with a freedom. He's also seen a fair few of the players he's coached make it into the full national side.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Fewer than 48 hours ago, Caroline Weir said Pedro Martinez Losa still had the "respect" of the Scotland squad despite their failure to reach Euro 2025.

Speaking after Real Madrid's Champions League match with Celtic in Hamilton, the midfielder still thought the Spaniard had the confidence of the team.

He has now been relieved of his duties, but the players have not been freed from the hurt and disappointment suffered during his spell.

The 29-year-old admitted defeat to Finland "has hit hard" and she "found it hard to sleep for quite a few nights".

"I've probably found it one of the more difficult times in my career in terms of a result like that," Scotland vice-captain Weir said.

"I actually found it hard to sleep after for quite a few nights.

"It's hit a lot of players very hard, for me definitely, thinking, 'what more could I have done?' Thoughts you really don't want to have, but that's happened in the last week.

"I think it's probably too soon to say exactly where [Scotland go from here].

"We have to reflect, see where it was we fell short exactly. For me, it's still a little bit too soon to really go into the details, we have to let it settle a little bit."

Martinez Losa's future has been settled, though, and he leaves with the respect of his players.

"He's put a lot of trust in me recently especially and the players respect him for sure," Weir added on Tuesday.

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Three-and-a-half years of failure have, finally, come to an end.

Pedro Martinez Losa's appointment came at a crucial time, when Scotland had just missed out a third consecutive major tournament appearance.

His remit was clear. Get the national team back to the top table. Instead, he leaves having suffered two play-off final defeats.

That in itself was poor enough, but with the talented squad he had at his disposal hitting their prime, it was inexcusable.

As was the way Scotland played at times. The Spaniard promised an attack-minded, possession-based style of play. Fleetingly during his spell did we see it.

The first leg of the recent Euro 2025 play-off final against Finland at Easter Road was flat and flimsy with imagination and intent strangers to the cause.

It left an uphill battle in Helsinki where, after being 2-0 down in just 28 minutes, Martinez Losa brought on defenders Lisa Evans and Emma Mukandi, both 32, as second-half substitutes.

As eyebrow-raising a decision that was, none were more shocking than the Scottish FA's decision to hand him a contract extension to 2027 last September.

It felt unmerited and unnecessary at the time, and for the last 10 days, it's looked ridiculous.

During his time in charge, he only oversaw one competitive win against a top-30 side - Austria in the 2023 World Cup semi-final play-off.

Martinez Losa was never short of critics or doubters as his squad grew in age and regressed in accomplishment.

As he departs, they - this golden generation who have arguably missed their golden hour - are right back to square one. Out of the major tournament conversation.

There will be plenty talk in the next few days as to who will succeed the Spaniard. It's an appointment the powers at be cannot afford to waste again.

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"Proud" Pedro Martinez Losa says he leaves with "fond memories" of his Scotland tenure.

The Spaniard, 48, has been sacked after three-and-a-half years in charge, having failed in two attempts to lead the women's national side to a major finals.

"I am immensely proud of the journey we have undertaken as a group and it has been a privilege to lead the Scotland women's national team," told the Scottish FA website.

"Watching young talent flourish alongside our experienced players has been a highlight of my time here.

"I leave with fond memories and gratitude to my squad, backroom staff, and the passionate supporters, who have been unwavering in their backing.

"Scotland will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish the team every success in the future."

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell thanked Martinez Losa for his efforts and noted the national side's promotion to Nations League A, but said "the primary objective was to qualify for a major tournament again".

Pedro Martinez Losa has been sacked as Scotland women head coach, with the Scottish FA board believing "change is required" after the failure to qualify for Euro 2025.

Play-off defeat by Finland left Scotland without a major tournament appearance in six years.

Martinez Losa took charge in July 2021 and oversaw Scotland's promotion to Nations League A, but could not secure World Cup or Euros qualification.

Have the Scottish FA made the right call in parting company with the Spaniard or should he have been given more time?

The recruitment process "will begin immediately" - so who would you like to see appointed?

Let us know your thoughts, external

We asked for your thoughts on Scotland's play-off defeat to Finland.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Margaret: These players do not deserve to be at the finals of any tournament. Sack the manager. Bring in some young players and go again for the next tournament.

Graham: Sad truth is they are simply not good enough, the so called star players did not perform and Finland over the two games deserved to win and they are bang average team so what does that say about Scotland?

Lisa: We have gone backwards under Pedro Martinez Losa, women's football has improved a lot and we haven't kept up. Tactics were questionable and unless we're against smaller teams, he cannot get the best out of the quality players. We didn't get any luck tonight but it's a much bigger problem than luck.

Gordon: Team let down badly by Caroline Weir in both games against Finland. Miles off the pace and deliveries were shocking. Reputation shouldn't guarantee anyone a place and Erin Cuthbert playing too deep. Manager should have a long hard look at himself.

Danny: Another very poor performance, with our so-called stars failing to turn up again. The truth is we have little quality in the team. At least we will now get rid of the manager, three years too late in my view. He is totally incapable of getting the best out of even average players.

Grant: Poor first leg, absolutely no aggression and a bit unlucky maybe, but tactically I didn't get it after going a goal down. To me the manager can't progress the team any further, change is needed.

Graham: Surely now it is the time for a change of coach. Finland are not an amazing team but they controlled this tie and qualified comfortably. They looked fitter and better drilled. Certain players "cannot miss" this tournament apparently. Well, they are missing it, and since the players can't be changed, it's the coach who needs to. We need fresh ideas.

Mary: Big names did not turn up. Same as their performance at Easter Road last week.

Former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay says the national side do not have a "clear identity" under Pedro Martinez Losa.

The Scots failed to qualify for their third major tournament in a row following Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat by Finland in the Euro 2025 play-off.

"I'll be honest, I've been struggling to pinpoint what their identity is," Fay told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Scotland has always unashamedly built teams around our best players. When I was playing, we built it around Julie Fleeting. She was the star, she was the difference maker.

"Everybody talked about Kim Little in attack, she was actually our best defender. We played this transition game because that's what she was so good at.

"And then you come to this generation and it should be built around getting the ball to our midfield, allowing our wide players to get high and wide, bodies in the box to finish. And I think we've struggled to do that.

"We struggled to see the likes of Erin Cuthbert, Caroline Weir and Sam Kerr being that anchor there and if we don't get the ball there and they can't impact the game then we struggle.

"Yes, we won games in our qualification campaign but we didn't dominate games enough. So I do get a little confused when Martinez Losa speaks - he can't seem to find something to hang his hat on, and I think that's come across.

"I don't think we have evolved as much as we could and should have."

Captain Rachel Corsie and former midfielder Leanne Crichton give their reaction to the Euro 2025 play-off defeat by Finland.

Corsie tells us what the atmosphere was like in the changing room post-match and what the defeat means for her future as a Scotland player.

Give it a listen on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast

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Caroline Weir says Scotland "gave everything" in their play-off final defeat to Finland in Helsinki.

The Scots, who failed to bring any advantage from the first leg, were caught our early by the home side who adapted to the freezing conditions seamlessly while Scotland stuttered to a 2-0 loss.

In Rachel Corsie's absence, Real Madrid midfielder Weir led Scotland out at the Bolt Arena, and said her side "couldn't have done much more".

It now leaves Scotland without a major tournament appearance in six years.

"I think we did everything, this game came down to a couple of moments that weren't in our favour," the 29-year-old told BBC Alba.

"The team couldn't have done much more. Unfortunately we've not done enough and it's a really tough one to take.

"It's really hard to digest at the moment, it wasn't our night. We've worked so hard in the last couple of years to be in this position and unfortunately we couldn't take that final step.

"The players have worked so hard but it wasn't enough."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Bolt Arena, Helsinki

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Pedro Martinez Losa said Scotland "must stick together" after their "regretful" failure to qualify for next summer's European Championships.

The Scots fell to a 2-0 defeat in Finland and will now watch a third major tournament in a row from home.

However, the Spaniard insisted the squad "deserved" to be there, though admitted they can "always do more".

"We started the game in difficult conditions," the head coach said. "After the goals I thought we dominated the opponent, created enough changes to score but football is like that. We had a shot that hit the post, a potential penalty but the girls fought until the end.

"This is an opportunity for the players to lead each other through a difficult moment.

"I don't know how you can teach the players to play on a frozen pitch. They are used to playing in these conditions, especially in the first minutes. It caused a couple of adjustments for us. You always can do more.

"There are regrets because we wanted to qualify, so the biggest regret is the outcome. We needed to win more games or get more goals than Finland and we didn't do it.

"I need to analyse the game and analyse myself, now though I will prepare the team in the same way.

"The immediate future, as we discussed in the dressing room, is to stick together. We wanted to enjoy the tournament together but it is also an opportunity for the players to inspire."