Willie Kirk
Leicester City Women Manager
- Former Leicester City Club’s Director of Football- Women and girls
- Over 15 years managerial experience at clubs including Hibernian, Bristol City, Manchester United and Everton Football Club
- Ex Professional footballer for Preston Athletic
- BBC Sport Women’s Super League pundit
Full Profile
About Willie Kirk
Willie Kirk is an accomplished football manager and UEFA Pro Licence coach with a track record of transforming teams and driving sustained performance across top-level women’s football. Drawing upon over 15 years of experience leading clubs such as Hibernian, Bristol City, Manchester United Women, Everton, and most recently Leicester City as Director of Football (Women and Girls), Willie equips organisations with actionable strategies for high performance, leadership, and organisational transformation across the sports and business sectors.
Willie Kirk’s journey began as a professional footballer at Preston Athletic before he transitioned into coaching, starting with Livingston FC’s Academy. His managerial talents soon became evident, culminating in celebrated roles across the UK’s top women’s teams. He notably guided Hibernian L.F.C. to Scottish Cup and League Cup victories and led Bristol City Women to Women’s Super League promotion. At Everton Women, he steered the club to the FA Cup Final, underlining his pedigree for achieving results in high-pressure, competitive environments.
Expertise and Business Challenges Addressed
Willie’s expertise goes beyond sporting performance. As a leader, he specialises in:
- Delivering team turnarounds in underperforming environments.
- Building cultures of resilience and accountability.
- Driving academy and senior team technical excellence.
- Leading organisational transformation during periods of change or transition.
- Empowering leaders to inspire, align, and nurture high-performing teams.
Through keynote presentations and consultancy, Willie addresses business challenges such as leading through adversity, strategic transformation, fostering talent, and building cultures that thrive under pressure. His insights resonate with leaders across industries seeking sustainable competitive advantage, effective team management, and a robust approach to change.
Honours and Achievements
- Led Hibernian L.F.C. to win the Scottish Women’s Cup and Premier League Cup.
- Appointed as Bristol City Women’s Head Coach, securing WSL promotion.
- FA Cup Finalist as Everton Women’s manager.
- Named Scottish Women’s Football Manager of the Year (2013).