Olympic FC wish to confirm that NPL Queensland Women’s Head Coach, Danny Byrne has informed the club that he will be moving on ahead of the 2023 season.
Byrne departs after two seasons at the helm in which he spearheaded the club’s return to the top tier of female football in Queensland.
Byrne built a squad from scratch to compete in a restructured NPL Women’s competition in 2021, after a Olympic was awarded a licence for the first time since 2017.
Byrne lead the side to a first placed finish in the FQPL in the second phase of the 2021 season securing promotion and Olympic’s status in the Women’s NPL.
Following an undefeated run in the FQPL Byrne was awarded 2021 FQPL Women’s Coach of the Year honours.
In 2022 Byrne took Olympic to a seventh place finish in the club’s first full season back in the NPL consolidating top flight status for the year ahead.
In building the new NPL Women’s program at Olympic Byrne managed to bring nine players from the club’s old NPL Women’s program back to the club while ten players from the club’s U23’s made first team debuts in 2022.
Byrne said he was proud to have played his part in returning the club to the state’s top tier.
“I am happy to be departing knowing that it is a job well done,” Byrne said.
“When I took the role there was no NPL Women’s program, just a lot of passionate people with big ideas.
“In a short time, we have managed to build a program from the ground up and bring back elite women’s football for both our junior and senior players.
“We have now managed to maintain our place back amongst the NPL Women’s elite and it is onwards and upwards from here with Olympic being back where they rightly belong.”
Olympic President, Peter Ioannidis thanked Byrned for his significant contribution to the football club.
“Olympic were so fortunate to secure the services of Danny, a professional coach who was meticulous in his planning and dedicated to producing an excellent football program that would develop talented female football players.
“Danny’s training sessions were challenging and enjoyed by all the girls who were fortunate enough to be trained by a club legend.
“Danny will be sorely missed by all at Goodwin Park, but we understand the need for the next step in his journey and wish Danny and his partner Nat the very best.
“Danny will always be welcomed at Goodwin Park where he made his name as one of our top senior players and then senior coaches and when he comes back to Brisbane, where he will continue to help foster and grow a development program that will produce top female football players.”
Olympic wish to sincerely thank Danny for his significant contribution to the football club and wish him every success in the future.
Olympic will make announcements regarding new Head Coaches for both the club’s NPL Queensland Men’s & Women’s sides shortly.