NO-ONE could have believed a year ago that a man without any senior managerial experience would be given the job of leading the England Women’s National Team. 

Chelsea captain Katie Chapman seemed to sum up many people’s surprise at Phil Neville’s appointment. “Surely there must be coaches out there who’ve had a lot more experience in the women’s game, and of actually being a manager?”

Looking back on his first 365 days in the job, former Charlton Athletic Women’s and Estonia coach Keith Boanas believes Neville’s playing career helped make up for any shortfall in his coaching credentials.