Scottish Women's Football

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Elena Sadiku has been speaking to the media ahead of Celtic's Champions League tie with FC Twente.

Here are the key points...

• Hoping to put on a "great performance" in the Netherlands. Sadiku thinks Celtic have "grown as a team on this big stage", and is hoping to "tie everything together" on Tuesday.

• It has been a "tough schedule" balancing European and domestic games. Keeping players fit and recovery has been a learning curve.

• At this level, teams need to be "switched on all the time". Sadiku believes Celtic have been punished for a lack of focus in previous games and need to learn from that.

• Determined to get back to domestic focus in January and trying to win the league to get another crack at the Champions League. "Next time we compete on this stage, we will be better."

• On preparation, it was the "best match day minus one training session I've seen from this group". The team is "hungry" to show people what they can do.

• FC Twente, are a "good attacking team", but also "intense" in defence.

• Murphy Agnew is a fitness doubt for Celtic.

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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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Spartans head coach Jack Beesley: "I thought we were excellent. I'm really pleased with their application and their effort. For them to show the composure and resilience to fight back despite conceding so early, I thought we were close to a match for them.

"In isolation, it was a good performance. It shows we can try and compete. It's a performance we can be proud of. In the midst of a hard spell of games for us, I thought it was a great performance."

Hearts head coach Eva Olid: "We could've been better. I always demand a performance and the three points. Today I expected a better performance, but, we did the job and that is the important thing."

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Queen's Park head of women's football John McNeil: "It's hard. I feel for the girls. I thought for the first 70 minutes we were the better side and dominated.

"They came out in the second half, but, it's cruel. Two chances and two goals.

"It's been a really tough week, we've had one session together but the girls have stood up to it, they've been excellent."

Dundee United head coach Suzy Shepherd: "It was all about character in the second half. I think the girls thoroughly deserved their three points.

"There was belief out there and I'm so proud of them to get the first league win."

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Partick Thistle head coach Brian Graham: "We played well in spells today but we gifted two goals in the first half. Over the course of the season, we're drawing too many games.

"We've not done enough over the course of the season. There's been lapses in concentration, our structure has to be better, we can't get complacent."

Montrose manager Craig Feroz: "Coming down here getting a point against a good Partick Thistle side, I'm delighted.

"My players never give up, they never have since we came into the league."

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Hibernian head coach Grant Scott: "A very good win and clean sheet against a very good team who are progressing.

"I think playing against the win suited us better. First half we went too long too soon, second half we kept it short and sweet.

"We're fighting to accumulate as many points as we can."

Motherwell head coach Paul Brownlie: "I thought our first half performance deserved more, but, credit to Hibs their second half performance, they created more opportunities.

"I thought we were far better than Hibs in the first half but we didn't take our chances."

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Glasgow City head coach Leanne Ross: "We dominated the game today in difficult conditions. We didn't want to change too much in our game plan, but we were brave. We know we have quality in these team to do that, and we did it today.

"It's going to be tight at the top, nothing is won at this point in time. I think come the split, you'll see the quality in all the teams and it'll be another exciting finish."

Rangers manager Jo Potter: "We weren't good enough, we weren't the better team today. We were dominated by a very good team. We can't feel sorry for ourselves as we didn't deserve anything from the game.

"We can't give a team like City a 1-0 lead in a game like this. If you're under the cosh, you can kind of accept it but the goal has came from nothing."

Natalia Wrobel's hat-trick took dominant Glasgow City top of the SWPL and two points clear of opponents Rangers.

Wrobel twice capitalised on mistakes to score in blustery conditions and added an opportunistic third against the pre-match leaders, who sustained their first league defeat of the season.

Were you at any of the weekend's games or following the action from home? Have your say on the action., external

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A top of the table tussle 10 days from Christmas, is an early present in the SWPL.

Jo Potter's Rangers leapfrogged Sunday's hosts Glasgow City with a narrow midweek win against Motherwell to sprinkle some extra spice on the already mouthwatering meeting.

The top two faced off just over two months ago at Ibrox and couldn't be separated as a 1-1 draw was played out.

It was a tight affair then, and it has been throughout the season with Rangers only one point better off than Leanne Ross' side.

City dropped points against Hearts on Wednesday after a 0-0 draw and will be desperate to get back to winning ways in their second last game before the winter break.

Emily Whelan, who opened the scoring in the previous match, is enjoying a fine season in City colours and will look to add to her eight league goals already this term.

While Katie Wilkinson, who netted her 22nd SWPL goal of the season midweek, has yet to notch one against City.

Reigning champions Celtic sit seven points behind the league leaders, but Elena Sadiku's side will soon be able to commit their full attention to domestic duties.

Once their final Champions League match on Tuesday against Twente is over, their title defence will surely crank up another gear.

How City and Rangers would love to maintain a bit of breathing space before the charge commences.

How to follow on the BBC

There will be live text coverage of all six Sunday games from 11:50 BST on the BBC Sport website and app.

Glasgow City v Rangers is the early kick-off and it's live on BBC Alba, the BBC Sport website and app. It gets under way at 12:10 BST.

And on Monday night, watch all the goals and best of the weekend SWPL action on Sportscene at 19:00 on the BBC Scotland channel.

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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.

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Queen's Park head coach Craig Joyce and his assistant Iain Ferrie have left the club by mutual consent.

Head of Women's football John McNeil will take charge of the team while the search for a new boss takes place, he'll be assisted by former Scotland international Suzanne Winters.

The club have confirmed the search for a new boss is under way.

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".