Melissa Phillips’ brief coaching stint in the United States was so short that she didn’t have time to move all her possessions out of her flat in London. This is a blessing for the 35-year-old, who has now been tasked with leading Brighton to their first Women’s FA Cup final, and then preserving their Women’s Super League status. Phillips was appointed last week as the Seagulls’ fourth manager of the season, following the departures of Hope Powell and Jens Scheuer, as well as two interim spells for Amy Merricks.
Phillips’ third job of the season began with Championship promotion hopefuls London City Lionesses, who were top of the league when Angel City came calling in January to offer her the role of assistant coach in her native California. Her Lionesses departure was announced days before they faced Tottenham in the FA Cup in January. However, just over three months into her time with Angel City and two games into the National Women’s Soccer League season, Brighton made their move – and Phillips couldn’t say no.
At her pre-match news conference for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Saturday, Phillips said: “My heart was always in England. Leaving at a time when my previous club was fighting at the top was tough, but I needed to progress my career by training world-class players. But my heart is here, Brighton share my ambitions to grow in the women’s game. I never expected to spend so little time at Angel, but they understood me coming back. I was lucky that I hadn’t shipped my stuff out yet, it’s still in my flat in London.”
Phillips’ first match could not be much tougher. Unlike Manchester United, Brighton have played in a Women’s FA Cup semi-final previously – but that is where the on-paper advantages end. Brighton are bottom of the WSL with two wins and nine points from 15 games, where they have conceded a staggering 50 goals. United, meanwhile, have scored 46 times in 17 WSL fixtures, the best attacking record in the division, as they sit a point clear at the top of the table.
Yet Phillips welcomes the challenge they will face at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, before attention turns to league matters. She said: “There’s no pressure at all, it’s a good challenge against one of the best teams in the league. Our priority is the league, but it is not just about staying up, we want to impress as well. It has been difficult on staff because of the transition over the last year. We want to come in and provide stability. I can’t understate the achievement [of reaching an FA Cup semi] enough from the players, amid such a transition year.”
Brighton’s last WSL game on 1 April was against United – and they lost 4-0 at home. Despite this, and having very limited time with her new squad after she arrived during the international break, Phillips remains positive they can cause an upset. She said: “Four-nil wasn’t indicative of how competitive we were. We are looking at incremental adjustments from that game, not wholesale changes, we don’t have that time in place. We have to be careful about what we do.”
Phillips arrives at Brighton with her reputation high after her London City Lionesses spell, where she initially joined as assistant manager the day before the coronavirus lockdown began in March 2020. She then took on the senior role in October that year. While there, Phillips shaped one of the strongest sides in the second tier, despite the Lionesses being a rare example of an independent club near the top level of English women’s football who are not affiliated with a men’s professional team.
Messages posted on social media by Lionesses players and staff after Phillips left for Angel City showed the esteem in which she was held. Nikita Runnacles, who served as Phillips’ assistant before taking on the interim head coach role after her departure, wrote: “This is not an understatement when I say Melissa has changed my life, along with so many others.” Players were similarly effusive with praise. Co-captain Shae Yanez said: “What an impact you have made both in my life, on/off the pitch. This club would be nowhere without Mel.” Republic of Ireland midfielder Lily Agg wrote: “Hard to even imagine London City Lionesses without Melissa Phillips, who has only ever put us players first throughout this journey and is the sole reason why we are top of the league. The most selfless, driven human.”
Phillips hopes to create a similar feeling at Brighton who she believes have everything in place to succeed despite their lowly league position. She said: “Brighton have an unbelievable vision for the women’s project, providing a real platform to be successful and to operate in. There is so much potential to be successful, we just have to match that on the pitch.” On Saturday 15 April, Melissa Phillips will lead Brighton into their first Women’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village. With limited time with her new squad after arriving during the international break and a daunting task ahead of them against one of the best teams in the league, Phillips remains positive they can cause an upset. She has already proven her ability to shape one of the strongest sides in the second tier during her time at London City Lionesses and has earned great respect from players and staff alike for her selfless and driven nature. With an unbelievable vision for their women’s project providing a platform to be successful and operate in, Brighton have all they need to succeed – they just need to match it on the pitch.