Ecuador's 26-year-old coach claims new record at FIFA Women's World Cup

Vanessa Arauz, head coach of Ecuador’s Women’s National football team, has set a new record for Youngest coach in a FIFA Women's World Cup.

 

Born in February 1989, Arauz became the record holder at the young age of 26, during Ecuador’s debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ on Monday, June 8th. Sadly, Arauz could not lead the team to a victory and Ecuador was defeated 6-0 by fellow newcomers Cameroon during yesterday’s match, which also marked the South American team’s first appearance in a FIFA Women's World Cup.

At only 26, Arauz’s youth is not synonymous with inexperience. In 2011, the former Emelec midfielder was named assistant coach of Ecuador’s women’s team until 2013 when she was made head coach.

 

Younger than many of the players taking part in this year’s tournament, Vanessa is also the youngest coach, male or female, in the history of both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup tournaments.

 

The youngest coach at a FIFA Men’s World Cup is Juan José Tramutola (Argentina, b. 21 October 1902) aged 27 years 267 days when he co-managed Argentina at the 1930 World Cup in their opening game versus France in Parque Central, Montevideo, Uruguay on 15 July 1930. 

 

The only other coach under 30 years old at a FIFA World Cup is Hungarian, Gyorgi Orth, who was in charge of Chile at the 1930 World Cup at the age of 29 years 77 days.