Meet the Manager of Two National Teams
Scott Wiseman might be new to coaching, but he’s already taken on a huge task. At just 39, the former player has jumped straight into the deep end, managing two national teams after hanging up his boots in 2023. He had a solid playing career in England, including time with Barnsley in the Championship, but now he’s all in on coaching. Meet the Manager of Two National Teams.
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A Dual Role with Gibraltar’s National Teams
Having played for Gibraltar, Wiseman became head coach of the women’s team in 2023. Then, in March, he was also asked to step in as interim manager for the men’s team after the previous coach, Julio Cesar Ribas, left for personal reasons. Handling both teams is no small feat, but Wiseman seems to be up for the challenge.
“It’s a privilege to do one, let alone two,” he told BBC World Service.
While coaching two teams at once sounds tough, Wiseman says it’s a bit like what he experienced in England, where coaches often handle quick back-to-back matches.
“In England, you’ve got games on Saturdays and Tuesdays, which makes prep tricky, but it’s similar here — just with two national teams on different schedules,” he explained. Meet the Manager of Two National Teams.
Wiseman acknowledged that managing two teams has affected his home life a bit, joking that his wife expected more quality time together after his playing days. Still, he appreciates her support as he settles into coaching.
Gibraltar’s Progress Under Wiseman
Even though Gibraltar’s men’s team is ranked 196th in the world, they’ve shown some solid progress. Before their 3-1 loss to Montenegro, they had gone seven matches without a defeat and even took an early lead in that game, proving they’ve made strides.
They’re aiming for promotion in the Nations League and will compete in a League C/D playoff next year. Wiseman isn’t sure what his future holds, but he’s focused on setting a solid base for the team. Meet the Manager of Two National Teams.
Developing the Next Generation
Wiseman is keen on building Gibraltar’s future by tapping into young talent.
“The goal for the next year is definitely to gear up for the Nations League playoffs,” he said.
He’s created one of the youngest squads in Gibraltar’s history, hoping to use this qualification campaign as a launchpad for the next wave of players.
“We’ve never scored a point in EURO or World Cup qualifying, so this campaign could really help the younger guys gain the experience they’ll need,” Wiseman added.
Gibraltar’s next match is against Czechia in a World Cup qualifying game on Wednesday at 6:45 am AEDT, which you can catch live on Optus Sport in Australia. Meet the Manager of Two National Teams.
