Know your head coach for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026: Amelia Valverde

Amelia Valverde is a renowned figure in Costa Rican women’s football

When India women’s national football team appointed Amelia Valverde as their head coach, it signaled more than just a managerial change, it marked the beginning of a new vision. At just 39, the Costa Rican tactician brings with her a reputation built on hard work, tactical clarity and a deep-rooted connection to the women’s football.

Valverde has been a central figure in the growth of women’s football in Costa Rica, contributing significantly both on and off the pitch.

Her journey reflects determination and progressive thinking, qualities that could prove crucial as India aims to establish itself more firmly on the continental stage.

With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia fast approaching, the responsibility on her shoulders is immense. It is a tournament that could shape the direction of Indian women’s football for years to come, and under Valverde’s leadership, there is a renewed sense of belief and anticipation.

Now the question arises, what are her prior experiences? and should Indian fans be excited? So, let’s take a look at her managerial career and also understand a little about her playing career.

A calling not a coincidence

For Amelia Valverde, coaching was never a backup plan, it was destiny.

At just 23 years of age, when most players are still dreaming about the peak of their playing careers, Valverde stepped into management. Not because of injury. Not because she was forced to. But because, in many ways, she was born for it.

The story almost feels cinematic. One day, while she was still playing for her team, the manager suddenly left. The squad was without direction. In that uncertain moment, one of her teammates simply raised her hand and said, “Let Amelia be the manager.” And Amelia said yes. Just like that, she stepped onto the touchline, and everything changed.

Speaking to FIFA+, she once said, “Everyone thinks I retired through injury but that’s not the case. When I stepped on the touchline, I felt it was my place. That was clear to me.”

Her love for football, however, began much earlier. As a child in Costa Rica, she didn’t even have a proper football. She would kick milk and juice cartons around, playing with her cousins, long before structured training sessions and professional pathways existed.

Even her older brother wasn’t as obsessed with the game as she was. Football wasn’t just a hobby; it was part of her identity.

“Even today, my mother says that I have football for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s part of my life.”, she said.

Playing & managerial career

Amelia Valverde began playing at just 15 with San Ramon in Costa Rica’s top division before turning out for Deportivo Saprissa and Flores. But coaching soon became her true calling. She took over Flores mid-season after the manager’s dismissal, her first step into professional management.

That same year, she joined the Costa Rica women’s national team as a fitness coach, steadily rising through the ranks. By 2015, at just 28, she was appointed head coach of the national side.

Under her guidance, Costa Rica reached the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, earning historic draws against Spain and South Korea, and later returned to the global stage at the 2023 World Cup after finishing fourth at the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship.

Her tenure also delivered gold at the 2017 Central American Games, silver at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games, and bronze at the 2019 Pan American Games, building not just results, but belief.

After eight defining years, she took charge of CF Monterrey Femenil in 2024 and immediately won the Clausura title, becoming only the fourth female manager to lift the Liga MX Femenil trophy. Though her stint ended in September 2025 after a tough spell, it barely dented her reputation.

From kicking milk cartons as a child to leading a nation at two World Cups and winning silverware abroad, Valverde’s story is one of resilience, growth, and an unshakable love for the touchline.

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What does Amelia bring to the table?

For the Indian women’s team, Amelia Valverde offers big-tournament experience. Having coached at two World Cups, she understands preparation, pressure and how to compete against stronger sides, something India can truly benefit from.

She also brings discipline and clarity. With her background in fitness and structured coaching, India can expect a more organized setup, better game management and stronger mentality. Most importantly, she knows how to build belief, and for a growing team like India, that could make all the difference.

Head coach profile: Amelia Valverde

• Name: Amelia Valverde Villalobos
• Age: 39
• Nationality: Costa Rica
• Preferred Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Teams Coached: Flores de Heredia, Costa Rica Senior Women’s Football Team, C.F. Monterrey Femenil
• Current Team: Indian Senior Women’s Football Team

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