Lyon Appoints First Female Coach Sonia Bompastor, Calls It "Necessary Mechanism"

Appointment of the French female coach: Lyon appoints its first-ever woman coach Sonia Bompastor who is a French football manager and former player after sacking the previous coach due to a recent defeat on the field.

Former international defender Sonia Bompastor became the first woman to be appointed as a coach for the Perennial French women's champions Lyon on April 27. The mentioned position was previously named for Jean-Luc Vasseur who was sacked after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.

The 40-year-old defender won 156 caps for France and will be the first woman to coach the team that has dominated European women's club football in recent years.

Lyon commented on Bompastor's appointment on Tuesday and called the decision to be "a result of a consultation process to find the necessary mechanisms to allow the team to successfully finish a season that has been played in difficult circumstances."

The French football player began her football career joining US Mer in 1988. She desisted her career after the French Women's Cup finals in June 2013. Apart from taking over as the manager of Lyon post-retirement, she also became the academy director of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in 2013, the same year as her retirement.

More From Women In Football

Earlier this year, another remarkable feat in the history of football was achieved when Rebecca Welch became the first-ever female referee for an English Football League.

After reviewing her performances, referee chiefs Mike Riley and Mike Jones appointed her as a referee on March 27. She said "I am still kind of trying to let it sink in at the minute," when the news was announced to her.

Previously, Welch was promoted to UEFA’s elite category of officials. She has also been a referee for the National League’s three seasons apart from taking charge of the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.