The Denmark women’s national team is set to enhance its coaching staff as preparations for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil commence. In a significant development, the Danish FA (DBU) has announced the appointment of Yannick Durand as the new physical coach for the women’s team, effective August 1. This move is part of a broader strategy to elevate the physical training across all national teams.
Yannick Durand: A New Era for Denmark’s Women’s Team
At 41 years old, Durand brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, having previously spent a decade at Sønderjyske Fodbold, where he held the position of Head of Performance. Most recently, he served as the Head of Physical Performance for FC Midtjylland’s Superliga side. His extensive background in athletics and club football spans over 15 years, making him a valuable asset to the Danish FA.
Durand takes over from Anders Storskov, who has transitioned to Panathinaikos FC in Greece. Storskov’s tenure was marked by significant contributions that reinforced the women’s team and aligned physical training across DBU’s squads. Christian Kejser, DBU’s head of performance, expressed enthusiasm about Durand’s appointment, highlighting his top-level specialization and international experience as crucial to the ongoing efforts to enhance the national teams’ physical programs.
In his own words, Durand is excited to shift to the federation side after years of working closely with national-team players. He sees immense potential in the women’s program and is motivated to contribute to its growth. Durand looks forward to collaborating once again with head coach Jakob Michelsen, with whom he previously shared success at Sønderjyske, where they achieved Superliga silver in 2016.
Michelsen emphasized the importance of a solid backroom staff, praising Storskov’s valuable contributions while expressing confidence that Durand’s professionalism and expertise will add new dimensions to their work. The team is gearing up not only for the Nations League but also for the highly anticipated World Cup, and Durand’s role will be pivotal in maximizing the players’ physical readiness.
As the Denmark women’s national team prepares for these significant challenges, the integration of Yannick Durand into the coaching staff marks a promising step towards achieving greater success on the international stage.