| Gemma Grainger | |
| Fullname: | Gemma Grainger |
| Birth Date: | 17 July 1982 |
| Birth Place: | Middlesbrough, England |
| Currentclub: | Norway (manager) |
| Manageryears1: | 2010–2011 |
| Managerclubs1: | Leeds United |
| Manageryears2: | 2012–2013 |
| Managerclubs2: | Middlesbrough |
| Manageryears3: | 2018–2019 |
| Managerclubs3: | England U17 |
| Manageryears4: | 2021–2024 |
| Managerclubs4: | Wales |
| Manageryears5: | 2024– |
| Managerclubs5: | Norway |
Gemma Grainger (born 17 July 1982) is an English football manager and former player who manages the Norway women's national team. She previously managed at club level with Leeds United and Middlesbrough.[1]
Grainger was appointed manager of Women's Premier League club Leeds United for the 2010–11 season.[2] After a poor start she parted ways with the club in January 2011.[3] She was appointed manager of Northern Combination club Middlesbrough for the 2012–13 season, leading the club to a fourth place finish.[4] Grainger left the club in 2013 due to commitments to the England development teams.
A UEFA Pro Licence since holder 2016, Grainger coached various England women's development teams, including at the 2014 U-20 World Cup, 2016 U-17 World Cup and European finals at under-19 (twice) and under-17 level. She was also part of the England senior coaching team for UEFA Women's Euro 2017.[5]
Grainger was appointed England under-17 manager in September 2018.[6] Her first match was a 6–0 win against Moldova.[7] England were unbeaten in qualification to the 2019 UEFA Under-17 Championship, winning all games, but were eliminated in the group stage of the final tournament on goal difference.[8] In total she managed more than 90 England international fixtures in 11 years with the Football Association.
Grainger was appointed Wales manager in March 2021 on a four-year contract.[9] Wales began their 2023 World Cup qualification with a 6–0 win against Kazakhstan.[10] The team qualified for the play-offs, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 in the first round,[11] but losing 2–1 to Switzerland in the second round.[12]
On 9 July 2023, the team travelled to San Jose, California, for a friendly with world champions the United States, losing 2–0.[13]
On 10 January 2024, it was announced that Grainger would leave her post with Wales to take on the head coaching role with Norway.[14]
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 19 March 2021 | 10 January 2024 | ||||||||
| Norway | 10 January 2024 | Present | ||||||||
| Career totals | ||||||||||