Hope Powell breaks England record

Here's a quiz question: Which football manager has coached England in the most internationals? Sir Alf Ramsey, Bobby Robson, Terry Venables even? 

It is one of questions which could pop up in a pub quiz and many would probably struggle to answer it let alone think that the record is held by a woman.

But history was made at the weekend when England coach Hope Powell took charge of her 140th match in charge of the women's team when her side took on Serbia in Belgrade in Saturday's Euro 2013 qualifier. The game against Serbia at the weekend was a typical one; with England on top in the first half and taking a 2-0 lead into half-time. But the game ended as a draw with the home side equalising in the final minute.

While it was not the best start to their Euro 2013 campaign, it was a moment for Powell, in her 13th year in charge of the national side, to celebrate as she went one better than Sir Walter Winterbottom, who was manager of the men's team between 1946 until 1962 when Sir Alf Ramsey took up the post.

Powell has been a revolutionary in the coaching game, becoming the first Black manager at national team level as well as the first woman to get the UEFA Pro Licence, enabling her to take charge of any professional team. Shel first took charge of the women's team in 1998 and has since led England to two World Cups, three European Championships as well as taking to as high as sixth in the world rankings.

This summer was not the best of times for England, who were eliminated in the quarter finals of the women's World Cup on penalties against France after the match finished 1-1.

But the 44-year-old continues to be an inspiration to many in the beautiful game, especially at a time when the issue of the lack of Black managers in the game is at the top of the agenda. It was only a couple of weeks ago when discussions were held by the football authorities to adopt the Rooney Rule from America's NFL, which makes it obligatory for every football team to interview at least one BME candidate for a coaching vacancy.

Along with Powell, there are only a few Black faces holding prominent management positions including Chris Hughton at Birmingham City, Chris Powell at Charlton Athletic as well as Noel Blake, who is head coach of England U19s.

She has often been courted as a future pro club manager but while that seems to be just paper talk, Powell continues to try and put together a women's national team which is capable of taking on the world's best.

Picture: Hope Powell