Christy Holly Q&A: ‘Right now, I’m working with the best players in the world’

Tomorrow, Derry man Christy Holly will manage Sky Blue FC of New Jersey against Washington Spirit as the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) begins its fourth season. A former player with Limavady United in the Irish League, Holly is the first Irish head coach of a professional women’s soccer club in America.

Q. The NWSL began in 2013, following the demise of Women’s Professional Soccer league in 2012. How is the new league bedding in?

A. Women’s soccer in America is probably the biggest sport on the scene. Before 2013, the league had struggled financially so they had to reinvent it. In 2013, you had eight teams. Since then, there’s been two more teams and next season, the plan is to have two more. So it’s growing rapidly. At Portland last season, we had 22,000 people at a game. Numbers are getting there across the board. The viewing figures for the US women in the World Cup final was incredible. I think it was the most viewed soccer programme, surpassing the Champions League.