Scott Wiseman, a former Gibraltar football player, has been facing a unique challenge since taking on two managerial roles within Gibraltar’s national teams. In 2023, he became the manager of the Gibraltar women’s team, overseeing their first competitive international fixtures in the 2024-25 Nations League. More recently, he was appointed interim manager of the men’s national team after Julio Cesar Ribas stepped down due to personal reasons.
At 39, Wiseman now juggles the responsibilities of leading both national teams. The men’s team has World Cup qualifying matches against Montenegro and the Czech Republic in March, while the women’s team has Nations League fixtures against Slovakia and the Faroe Islands in April.
Despite the demanding schedule, Wiseman embraces the challenge. Reflecting on his dual roles, the former right-back, who played for clubs such as Rochdale, Barnsley, and Preston North End, said that managing two teams is no different than the pressure faced by coaches in England who have matches on Saturdays and Tuesdays. For Wiseman, it’s an opportunity and a privilege to coach both national teams, even if it means less personal time. He added that his wife has been very understanding of the extra demands on his time.
Scott Wiseman began his coaching career with Gibraltar’s elite development teams while still playing for Lincoln Red Imps. Over time, he advanced to coach the women’s Under-19s as well as the men’s Under-16, Under-17, and Under-19 teams.
Many of the staff members who worked with Wiseman on the women’s senior team, where he has a “good working relationship,” have now joined him in his new role as interim manager of the men’s team.
Wiseman’s preparation for both teams has been eased by the positive performances of the women’s team in their opening Nations League fixtures against Moldova and the Faroe Islands. Despite losing both games 1-0, Wiseman was optimistic, noting that the team had exceeded expectations and made significant progress. He felt that the team had laid a strong foundation, which would make preparations for upcoming games easier.
As for the men’s team, Wiseman’s focus is on building for the future. The team will face Latvia in a two-legged play-off in March for a chance to be promoted to League C of the Nations League. Wiseman sees the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign as a stepping stone to the play-offs with Latvia. He emphasized that the squad is young, with many players gaining vital international experience. He hopes the campaign will serve as a foundation for future success, especially with the goal of achieving Gibraltar’s first point in Euro or World Cup qualification.
However, Wiseman is uncertain about his long-term future as the men’s manager. He noted that discussions regarding his position beyond the current window had not yet taken place, as his appointment was a quick response to Ribas’ resignation.
