Manager is hungry to implement his unique journey after a remarkable rise from coaching under-11s in 2012 to the WSL
Olli Harder’s journey to West Ham has been unusually long, even discounting that he was born in
New Zealand. After starting coaching aged 20, in 14 years Harder has manoeuvred his way to a managerial position in the Women’s Super League, a competition he believes will soon be the most prestigious in women’s
Football via stints coaching men,
Women and children in America,
China and Norway, where he had success with Klepp, the women’s team he took to successive top-three finishes, while also working as assistant coach at the men’s second division side Sandnes Ulf.
It is only eight years since Harder was celebrating leading Wilton Blue Under-11s to the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association Southwest District B Division title, his appointment as replacement for Matt Beard at the third-bottom club in the WSL continuing a remarkable rise from genuine obscurity.