Pedro Martínez Losa

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Martínez and the second or maternal family name is Losa.
Pedro Martínez Losa
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-05-09) 9 May 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Team information
Current team
 Scotland women
Managerial career
Years Team
2007–2008 Pozuelo Alarcón women
2008–2012 Rayo Vallecano Femenino
2012–2014 Western New York Flash (assistant)
2014–2017 Arsenal WFC
2019–2021 Bordeaux women
2021– Scotland women

Pedro Martínez Losa (born 9 May 1976)[1] is a Spanish football coach and sporting director, who is currently the head coach of the Scotland women's national team. Known primarily for his prominence within women's football, Martínez Losa has won major trophies in his native Spain with Rayo Vallecano Femenino, and in England with Arsenal Women.

Career

Martínez Losa has built up nearly 20 years' coaching experience, proving particularly adept at raising the level of professionalism at the clubs he has worked at. He began his coaching career at Pozuelo Alarcón, with their U-13, U-14 and U-15 boys' teams, and also had a stint coaching U-9, U-10 & U-12 boys' sides at Atlético Madrid.

Rayo Vallecano Femenino

Martínez Losa then started to coach women's football teams, first with the head coach's position at Pozuelo Alarcón before moving on to take the top job at Rayo Vallecano Femenino.[1] His tenure with Rayo was very successful, leading the club to their first major trophy in their history with the Copa de la Reina in 2008. Rayo then went on to win the league title for three consecutive seasons (2008–09, 2009–10 and 2010–11) and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2011.[1]

Western New York Flash

In 2012, he moved to the United States to the Western New York Flash as assistant coach to Aaran Lines while he was also handed the role of Advanced Training Instructor at the Flash Youth Academy.[1] In his first season with the Flash, they were joint winners of the National Women's Soccer League (alongside Portland Thorns and Kansas City), but in the subsequent play-offs they lost the championship final to Portland.[1] While still a part of the Flash set up, Losa spent the 2013 season as assistant coach to Niagara Purple Eagles women's soccer coach Peter Veltri.[2]

Arsenal

In 2014, Martínez Losa was named as the new manager of Arsenal Women, succeeding Shelley Kerr.[3] With Arsenal, he led the team to the 2015 FA WSL Cup[4] and the 2016 FA Women's Cup.[5] He also helped lay the foundations for the team's current success by signing the likes of Dominique Janssen, Sari van Veenendaal, Katie McCabe, Daniëlle van de Donk, Kim Little, Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema. Losa's time in charge also included bringing through youngsters of the quality of Leah Williamson, Charlie Devlin and Lauren James. Martínez Losa left Arsenal in October 2017, following a mixed start to the season.[6] In July 2018, he was appointed Director of Football for Millwall Lionesses,[7] but left in June 2019, when the club broke away from the men's side and became the London City Lionesses.[8]

Bordeaux

On 7 June 2019, Martínez Losa was named as the new manager of Division 1 Féminine club FC Girondins de Bordeaux, succeeding Jérôme Dauba.[9] In his first season at the club, in 19/20, Bordeaux achieved their all-time best top-division finish of 3rd place, with Martínez Losa named D1 Arkema coach of the season by French women's football site L'Équipière. [1] In the 20/21 campaign, Bordeaux are on course to repeat that achievement, which would bring with it the club's first ever participation in the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Scotland

Martínez Losa was appointed head coach of the Scotland women's national team in July 2021.[10] Scotland failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, losing a play-off final against Republic of Ireland.[11] Martínez Losa signed a new contract with Scotland in September 2023.[11][12] The decision by the SFA to offer Martínez Losa a new contract was criticised later that year, after Scotland lost 6–0 to England and were relegated from their Nations League group.[13]

Honours

Martínez Losa and Kelly Smith with the FA WSL Cup, 2015

Manager

Rayo Vallecano Femenino

Arsenal Women

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pedro Martínez Losa.
  1. ^ a b c d e McLaughlin, Eva (4 December 2014). "Profile: Arsenal Ladies – Pedro Martinez Losa". Spot Kick UK. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  2. ^ "VELTRI ADDS TWO TO WOMEN'S SOCCER COACHING STAFF FOR 2013 SEASON". Niagara Purple Eagles. May 28, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  3. ^ "Arsenal Ladies: Pedro Martinez Losa appointed new manager". BBC Sport. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Continental Cup final: Arsenal Ladies 3-0 Notts County Ladies". BBC Sport. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Women's FA Cup final: Arsenal Ladies 1-0 Chelsea Ladies". BBC Sport. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  6. ^ Benge, James (25 October 2017). "Manager Pedro Martinez Losa leaves Arsenal after Gunners stuttering start to WSL season". London Evening Standard.
  7. ^ "Millwall Lionesses appoint Director of Football". 12 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. ^ "FORMER MILLWALL LIONESSES DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL TO TAKE UP NEW ROLE". Southwark News. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. ^ "D1 féminine : Pedro Martinez Losa nouvel entraîneur de Bordeaux". L'Equipe (in French). 7 June 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Pedro Martinez Losa: Scotland appointed Bordeaux manager as head coach". BBC Sport. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Pedro Martinez Losa extends stay with Scotland until 2027". BBC Sport. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  12. ^ Cassidy, Peter (22 September 2023). "Scotland women's team manager Pedro Martinez Losa signs new deal until 2027". STV News. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Pedro Martinez Losa: Scotland head coach's new deal 'doesn't feel right' - Leanne Crichton". BBC Sport. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.