Trailblazers to history makers – Wales’ 30 year journey to Euro 2025
Nearly 20 years after meeting FAW, the women’s team remains an afterthought.
But another pivotal moment came in 2010, when a man from Finland showed up.
Jarmo Matikainen has been appointed as the first ever full-time head coach of the Wales women’s team.
A strict supervisor has higher demands on his team members and higher demands on FAW.
“He just came in and was with Jammo, black and white,” said Gwennan Harries, who played 56 times for Wales.
“We were all a little shocked at first, but when you’re in training camp you realize, he’s pushing us because he expects better from us and we’re good enough to compete and challenge.
“He introduced a lot of rules that we weren’t used to.
“We can’t eat ketchup with our meals because it contains too much sugar and we need to lose weight.
“But we had never spoken to a nutritionist, so none of us realized that these added things contribute to your professionalism and getting the best out of your body.
“We are very incompetent in this regard.
“He came in and made us realize we were elite athletes playing for our country.”
Under Mattikainen, the first close call occurred.
Wales challenged for a Euro 2013 play-off spot in their final game, but lost the decisive game to Scotland.
Two years later, the same situation happened to Ukraine in the 2015 World Cup.
But for the first time Wales believed promotion was more than just a pipe dream.
Ludlow succeeded Mattikainen in 2014, and the two became closer.
A run of seven games unbeaten and seven consecutive clean sheets ended with a defeat against England at Rodney Parade Stadium ultimately qualifying their rivals for the 2019 World Cup.
That game included a goalless draw with England at St Mary’s Stadium, a result Ludlow hailed at the time as their best ever.
“The biggest memory is walking into the locker room after the game,” she said.
“I opened the door, listened, closed the door and walked away and found a place to relax.
“My phone was going off like crazy for days after that and everyone noticed.
“But for me, I had my family with me, I went back to the hotel, got up the next day and went to Peppa Pig World because my little girl really wanted to go!”
