Helena Costa is first woman football manager in Europe's big five leagues

Helena Costa is no stranger to football — she has managed the women’s sides of Qatar and Benfica and was also a scout for Scottish champions Celtic. But now she’s gone a step further — making history by being appointed manager of French 2nd division side Clermont Foot.

It is the first time that a female has been appointed boss of a football club in the first two divisions of the top five leagues in Europe, said a Eurosport report.

The 39-year-old has also managed Portuguese lower-league men’s team Cheleirense, with whom she won the Lisbon regional championship with Portuguese lower-league team Cheleirense. With Benfica, she won two World Youth titles for Benfica, with whom she also won a Portuguese national youth championship.

“It should help the club enter a new era,” Clermont said.

Costa has a Masters degree in sports science, UEFA A license and authorship of several articles and seminars on coaching and sports. She has also commenced a PhD in Sports and PE in Lisbon.

The only other woman to coach a professional men’s team in Europe has been Carolina Morace, who managed 3rd division Italian side Viterbese in 1999 — but her stint lasted for just two matches. She quit due to constant media pressure.

Click here to read the full statement on Clermont’s website.