Laura Harvey

Laura Kate Harvey (born 15 May 1980) is an English football manager and former player[2] who currently manages OL Reign of the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[3] She holds USSF "A" and UEFA "A" coaching licenses.[4]

Laura Harvey
Personal information
Full name Laura Kate Harvey[1]
Date of birth (1980-05-15) 15 May 1980[2]
Place of birth Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
Team information
Current team
 OL Reign (head coach)
Youth career
Coventry City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Birmingham City
Managerial career
2002–2006 Birmingham City (assistant)
2005–2011 England U-17, U-19, U-23 (assistant)
2006–2008 Birmingham City
2008–2010 Arsenal (assistant)
2010–2012 Arsenal
2013–2017 Seattle Reign FC
2017 United States U-23 (interim)
2018–2019 Utah Royals FC
2020–2021 United States U-20
2020–2021 United States (assistant)
2021– OL Reign
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Harvey previously managed the United States women's national under-20 soccer team, Utah Royals FC, Arsenal, and Birmingham City. She was an assistant coach with the United States women's national soccer team[5] as well as England's U-17, U-19 and U-23 national teams.

Harvey was named FA WSL Manager of the Year in 2011 after guiding Arsenal to win the league title, FA Cup, and Continental Cup. She was named NWSL Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2021. She was the second woman to earn a U.S. Soccer Pro License.[6] Harvey is the first coach in NWSL history to coach 200 regular season games. As of July 2023, she holds the NWSL record for most regular season wins.[7]

Early life

Harvey grew up in Bulkington, a village in Warwickshire in the West Midlands region of England. She attended The George Eliot School in Nuneaton.[8] Her father was a full-time high school teacher and a football coach who worked for The Football Association (FA) and Coventry City F.C. during her childhood.[9] She would often attend men's Premier League games with her father where he taught her and her brother to "not just watch the ball, but everything else that's going on."[10]

Harvey began playing football at a young age on boys teams and in neighborhood pickup games along with Laura Bassett as there was no youth girls league available.[10] As a teenager, Harvey played for Coventry City L.F.C. for six years.[11] She graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a bachelor's degree in Sports Studies.[12]

Playing career

At age 22, Harvey ruptured her ACL while playing for Birmingham City; she subsequently retired from playing.[13][8] She previously played for Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.[14]

Managerial career

Birmingham City Ladies, 2002–2007

Harvey was named assistant coach for Birmingham City L.F.C. in 2002. In 2007, she was named team manager.[9]

Arsenal LFC, 2008–2012
See also: 2009–10 FA Women's Premier League, 2011 FA WSL, and 2012 FA WSL

In 2008, Harvey joined Arsenal L.F.C. as its first team coach. The following year, she was hired full-time as Assistant Academy Director and Reserve Team Manager.[15]

Harvey (top left) with the Arsenal LFC in 2011

In February 2010, Harvey was hired to replace Tony Gervaise as manager for Arsenal L.F.C. Of her hiring, Harvey said, "It's a really proud moment for me. In women's football, especially domestically, it doesn't come any bigger than Arsenal. When you set out to coach and you know this is your dream and your love, you want to make it the best it can possibly be and in my eyes it doesn't get much bigger than this."[16]

In 2011, Harvey was named FAWSL Manager of the Year after guiding the team to win the league title, FA Cup, and Continental Cup.[17] She finished her tenure with Arsenal in 2012 having led the team to three consecutive league titles, two Continental Cups, and one FA Women's Cup.[14][18][19] Harvey led the Gunners to the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals twice.[4]

Seattle Reign FC, 2013–2017

On 21 December 2012, Harvey was named head coach of Seattle Reign FC for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League, a new professional league in the United States.[14][20][21] The Reign faced a tough first half of the season and went 0–9–1 in their first ten games after all three of their American allocated players were unavailable: Hope Solo was out for wrist surgery and recovery, Amy Rodriguez was out for the season due to pregnancy, and Megan Rapinoe was returning mid-season after a six-month stint for Olympique Lyonnais.[22] With the return of Solo, Rapinoe, and some additional lineup changes made during the early summer, the Reign turned their regular season record around and finished the season in seventh place with a 5–14–3 record.[23] In August 2013, Harvey signed a contract extension with the Reign through 2017.[24] She left the club in November 2017.[25]

Harvey (right) with Jess Fishlock, September 2016

During the 2014 season, Harvey led the Reign to set a league record unbeaten streak of 16 games during the first part of the season. During the 16 game stretch, the team compiled a 13–0–3 record.[26] The Reign finished first in the regular season clinching the NWSL Shield for the first time.[27] After defeating the Washington Spirit 2–1 in the playoff semi-finals, the Reign were defeated 2–1 by FC Kansas City during the championship final.[28] Following the regular season, Harvey was named the league's Coach of the Year.[29] In December 2014, she was named FA Coach of the Year by the FA, and was a finalist for the FIFA World Coach of the Year.[30]

During the 2015 season, Harvey led the Reign to finish first in the regular season clinching the NWSL Shield for the second consecutive season.[31] After defeating the Washington Spirit 3–0 in a playoff semi-final, the Reign were defeated 1–0 by FC Kansas City during the championship final in Portland.[32] Following the 2015 regular season, Harvey was named NWSL Coach of the Year for the second consecutive time.[33]

On 7 November 2017, the Reign announced that Harvey had stepped down as head coach and general manager, and that the team had hired FC Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski, who had defeated Harvey's Reign FC teams in the 2014 and 2015 NWSL championship matches, on her recommendation.[34][35]

Utah Royals FC, 2018–2020

On 27 November 2017, Utah Royals FC announced Harvey as their first head coach.[36]

The Royals launched with players primarily sourced from the defunct FC Kansas City, which had spent almost all of the 2017 season out of playoff contention. The team's struggles continued in Utah during the 2018 season, playing five winless matches before their first victory on 5 May against Washington Spirit. The team then went on a 5–2–2 run that kept them in contention for the table's fourth-place spot and playoff qualification, then added mid-season reinforcements of Christen Press, Samantha Johnson, and Makenzy Doniak. However, the Royals stumbled into a three-match losing streak in July, and a 4–1–2 finish was not enough to qualify for the postseason.[37][38]

Despite a strong 5–2–2 start to the 2019 season, the Royals finished the season 5–8–2 and were eliminated from NWSL playoff contention for the second consecutive season after losing to Chicago Red Stars on 28 September 2019.[39]

While she initially expected to return to Utah for the 2020 season,[40] on 7 January 2020 Royals FC announced that Harvey had accepted an appointment from U.S. Soccer to manage its under-20 women's team.[41]

OL Reign, 2021–

Harvey returned to OL Reign as head coach, where she previously coached from 2013 to 2017, after the 2020 Summer Olympics in August 2021.[3]

Jess Fishlock and Laura Harvey at Lumen Field in Seattle, July 2022

OL Reign finished second in the 2021 season with a 13–8–3 season record, and 7–2–2 record under Harvey, but lost to Washington Spirit 1–2 in the playoff semi-finals.[42] Harvey was named 2021 NWSL Coach of the Year by a vote of owners, general managers, coaches, media, players, and fans; the 2022 win was her third.[43]

In 2022, OL Reign finished atop the NWSL table with a 11–4–7 record and won its third NWSL Shield, all under Harvey, but lost to Kansas City Current 0–2 in the playoff semi-finals.[44] OL Reign also finished atop the West Division of the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup group stage with an undefeated 4–0–2 record, but fell to Washington Spirit in the playoff semi-finals 8–9 by penalty shoot-out after a scoreless draw.[45] Harvey also led OL Reign to a 2022 The Women's Cup championship, defeating Club América in the semi-finals[46] and hosts Racing Louisville FC in the finals.[47] Harvey was a finalist for the 2022 NWSL Coach of the Year award.[48]

In July 2023, Harvey became the first coach in league history to coach 200 regular season games. As of July 2023, she holds the NWSL record for most regular season wins.[49] The same month, she extended her contract as head coach until 2025.[49]

International

From 2005–2011, Harvey served as assistant coach for England's U-17, U-19 and U-23 national teams.[14][50]

Harvey was named as coach of the United States U-23 national team for a tournament in Spring 2017, after coaching them through a January camp. She reportedly took on an expanded role with the United States Soccer Federation following her exit from the Seattle Reign FC organization.[51]

External video
video icon Head Coach Harvey celebrates with the United States U20 national team after winning the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship retrieved July 23, 2023

From January 2020 to July 2021, Harvey was the head coach of the United States women's national under-20 soccer team; she also served as an assistant coach of the United States women's national soccer team.[52] Harvey led the U-20 team on a seven-game unbeaten streak and championship win at the 2020 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic. The team, which included future senior national team stars Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Naomi Girma,[53] outscored its opponents 44-1 at the tournament.[6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently cancelled FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, Harvey had limited coaching opportunities during this time though credits the experience as a good learning and personal growth period.[54]

Managerial honours

Arsenal[19]

OL Reign

United States U-20

Individual

See also

References
  1. "Arsenal Kadın Futbol Takımı Antalya'da" [Arsenal Women's Football Team in Antalya]. NTV Spor (in Turkish). 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. "Laura Harvey". Arsenal. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  3. "LAURA HARVEY RETURNS AS HEAD COACH OF OL REIGN". OL Reign. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. "Laura Harvey". US Soccer. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  5. Cristobal, Jacob (15 July 2021). "Laura Harvey returns as head coach of OL Reign". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. "Laura Harvey departs U-20 USWNT head coach role to re-join OL Reign". SoccerWire. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  7. Rantz, Suzie (1 July 2023). "Laura Harvey will remain as OL Reign head coach through 2025". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  8. Bagot, Martin. "Gunning UP FOR THE CUP: boss Laura Harvey with from the FA holding Factor star Paije will perform at the for Cup glory; WHY ARSENAL LADIES BOSS HAS THE 'HOME ADVANTAGE' IN FINAL". Coventry Newspapers. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
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  12. "Laura Harvey – Arsenal Football Club, Ladies Manager". University of Wolverhampton. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  13. "COACH DEVELOPMENT WITH LAURA HARVEY – ARSENAL LADIES". RickyMasterCoach.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  14. Mayers, Joshua. "Reign FC hires Laura Harvey of the Arsenal Ladies as its first head coach". Seattle Times. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
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  40. Vejar, Alex (24 October 2019). "Royals FC GM: 'Something has to change' after missing playoffs for second straight year". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 22 April 2023. Harvey said she expects to return to Utah next season, though she won't be the next coach of the U.S. Women's National Team.
  41. Levine, Matthew (7 January 2020). "Utah Royals FC parts ways with head coach Laura Harvey" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
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