Wilson was announced head coach of Brisbane’s W-League side yesterday, replacing former Welsh international Jeff Hopkins who now assistants Roar head A-League coach Rado Vidosic
 
And she was emphatic about female coaches following a similar path to Hopkins.
 
“It’s not a gender issue, it’s a coaching issue,” she said. “If you’re good enough, it doesn’t matter if you are coaching men’s or women’s football. It’s the same.
 
“There’s no reason why we can’t coach the men’s game and the men can’t come to coach the women’s game as long as you have the experience and qualifications.”
 
Wilson’s credentials are extensive, having worked for FIFA as a Women’s Football Instructor and for AFC where she served as Director of Women’s Football and Elite Coach Instructor.
 
She also worked as Director of Coerver Coaching in Norway.
 
Wilson's appointment at Roar makes her the second female coach for the upcoming W-league season alongside Canberra United’s Jitka Klimková.
 
Melbourne Victory was coached by Vicki Linton for the past two seasons before Linton stepped down from the position earlier this week.
 
“I think it’s a fantastic pathway that we’re creating for future players and future female coaches as well," said Wilson.
 
“It’s very important not only for women’s football but also football in general to say we’ve got quality coaches out there who given the opportunity can thrive.”
 
Her new role will see her double as Football Queensland’s High Performance Unit Women’s coach, identifying and developing talented female footballers throughout the state.
 
Wilson said she is “very excited” about the challenge at Roar and the future of Australian women’s football.
 
“I’m glad that I could come back home to Australia and help women’s football,” Wilson said.
 
“We have a real bright future in terms of where we’re heading at the national team level and if we can get our national competition competitive it will help us.
 
“My philosophy is to have a creative team going forward and I believe the players in the squad will enhance my philosophy.”
 
Wilson also said Roar’s new female mascot, known as Rosie, was a “fantastic” initiative.
 
“What we are trying to do is build participation," she said.
 
"If we can bring young girls to the games, and incorporate that in terms of having a mascot and girls having an identification with the women’s game, I think that’s perfect.
 
“From that we can get more players playing in women’s competition here in Queensland.”