Lydia Bedford returned to the Football Association as head coach for the England Women's under-23 side following her tenure at Brentford. She previously worked within the national youth setup for 11 years before moving into club management. Bedford held the role of head coach at Leicester City Women and later worked as the under-18 academy coach for the Brentford men's team.
Her appointment followed the departure of Emma Coates, who joined the senior women's coaching staff under Sarina Wiegman. Bedford took charge of her first matches during the European under-23 selection period, according to the Football Association. The under-23 squad provides a pathway for players transitioning into the senior international level.
Bedford noted that her previous experience with the Football Association helped her settle quickly into the role. She remains the head coach as the team prepares for upcoming international fixtures, per reports from the Guardian. The squad includes several players with Women's Super League experience.
