Rhian Wilkinson: My hardest year

Feast of Football

BBC

Sports

4.8 • 564 Ratings

🗓️ 30 December 2025

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

From the unprecedented high of a first appearance at major tournament, to the disheartening 12-game winless streak, the past 12 months have been a period of polar contradictions for Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson. "It's by far my least successful year," she tells Carl Roberts and former Wales international Nia Jones, "but I'm so proud."

In an in-depth interview, Wilkinson reflects on the harsh lessons learned at the European Championship and the relief of ending the year with a victory over Switzerland. She reveals how her parents' influence have shaped her career, how she sees herself as manager and not a coach with Wales, and what role she hopes the retired Jess Fishlock will soon have in her backroom team.

Transcript

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