London (AFP) – Gemma Grainger has left her role in charge of Wales' women to take over as Norway team manager, the Football Association of Wales announced on Tuesday.
Grainger spent nearly three years as Wales boss, leading them to the brink of qualification for the 2023 World Cup when they lost out to a late goal against Switzerland in a playoff.
But the lure of coaching some of the world's best players, such as former Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg and Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen, with the two-time European champions in Norway proved too great to resist.
"Over the last three years I have given my heart and soul to our journey, and I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work with this team and proud nation," Grainger said in a FAW statement.
"I had no intention to leave Cymru, but I have been offered an unexpected opportunity that I could not turn down and it has been extremely difficult for me to get to this point. I hope you know the decision to leave has not been taken lightly."
Her final match in charge was an impressive 0-0 draw against Germany in Swansea last month.
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney said: "We are really happy that we have progressed well under Gemma and now we enter a period of recruitment for a new manager that will give us the best opportunity to qualify for UEFA Euro 2025 and the 2027 FIFA World Cup."