Leif Smerud, a former temporary head coach of the Norwegian national team, has been named manager of Crystal Palace Women.

He has served as the caretaker for both the male and female Norwegian national senior teams,

and he recently led Norway’s men’s U-21 team to just its third-ever European Championship finals in 2023.

It is wonderful to welcome Leif to Crystal Palace Football Club,

with his array of remarkable experiences at the highest level of the game,

said Grace Williams, Head of Women’s Football at Palace, in an interview with cpfc.co.uk.

“We believe Leif will be an excellent fit for maximizing the undeniable

potential of this group of players as we enter a critical stretch of games at the end of our

Women’s Super League season. His experience and credentials speak for themselves.”

“I’m truly honored, proud, and very happy to join Crystal Palace, a club,” Leif Smerud said.

For the past ten years, I’ve had the good fortune to speak with athletes about the honor

of serving their nation. Football, in my opinion, is about more than just strategy;

it’s about having a connection to certain ideals, and I really believe that

Crystal Palace has principles that I share.

“Hard work and punching above its weight are nothing new to this club.

Making connections with a group like that is an honor, and the folks

I’ve met along the way are all very intelligent.

I’m very excited to represent the club and everything it stands for.