Ian Willcock (born August 27, 1978) is an English former professional footballer and current goalkeeping coach, renowned for his contributions to women's football, particularly with Manchester United Women.
Playing Career
Willcock's playing career was primarily as a goalkeeper. He notably played for Caernarfon Town in the Cymru Premier, where according to Transfermarkt he made 29 appearances.
Coaching Career
Transitioning into coaching, Willcock held several positions across English football clubs:
Carlisle United: Served as goalkeeping coach during the 2003/04 season.
Bury FC: Held the role of goalkeeping coach from 2004 to 2007.
Accrington Stanley: Briefly worked as a goalkeeping coach in the 2007/08 season.
Rochdale AFC: Served as goalkeeping coach from January 2008 to June 2011.
Barnsley FC: Held the position of goalkeeping coach from July 2011 until March 2014.
In 2018, Willcock joined Manchester United Women as the goalkeeping coach. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing top-tier goalkeepers, most notably Mary Earps. Under his guidance, Earps achieved significant accolades, including being named FIFA Best Women's Goalkeeper.
Contributions to Women's Football
Willcock has been instrumental in elevating the standards of goalkeeping within women's football. His coaching philosophy emphasizes technical proficiency, mental resilience, and adaptability. He has been actively involved in grassroots initiatives, conducting training sessions and workshops to inspire and develop young female goalkeepers.
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