Ellis had been serving as the interim head coach since Sermanni's dismissal and will now take on the role full-time as the team gets set for the World Cup qualifying tournament in October.

The world number one ranked team will battle it out on home soil with eight other teams in this Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) qualifying tournament with the top three teams awarded a sport at the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada in 2015.

"We are confident she is the best person to find the right combinations on the field to make us successful in World Cup qualifying and beyond," said Sunil Gulati, President of the US Soccer Federation.

"She has experienced first-hand the growth of women's soccer worldwide and is uniquely positioned to lead our team to an even higher level.

"Jill has been on the bench for more senior and youth women's national team matches than perhaps any coach in US history," Gulati said.

"She has worked at this for many years and has tremendous knowledge of our player pool and the qualities of multiple generations of players."

Jill Ellis has been serving as the interim head coach of the US women's national football team after Tom Sermanni's surprise dismissal in April ©Getty Images



Ellis has served two stints as interim head coach of the national side, the first in 2012, where she led the team to five wins and two losses, and the second following Sermanni's surprise sacking last month after a disappointing performance in the Algarve Cup.

She was also assistant manager when the US women took gold at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games in Beijing and London respectively.

The 47-year-old will carry the burden of expectation with her as she leads the team into the qualifier in October with high hopes of a first World Cup victory since the team edged to victory in the Rose Bowl, Pasadena in 1999.

"I know the expectations and embrace the expectations," Ellis said.

"I know we want to win, and this team is capable of winning."

Ellis has served stints as coach of the US under-20 and under-21 women's national teams.

Her most notable achievements in the college ranks came at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which she led to eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Fours in 12 years.

Since January 2011, she had served as US Soccer's women's development director, a role she no longer will keep.

Ellis' first challenge will come on June 14 where the team will face fourth ranked France in a friendly in Tampa Bay, Florida, followed quickly by a second friendly against the French on June 19 in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Following the appointment Ellis added: "It's a huge honour.

"I'm humbled and proud to lead the current generation of players toward the ultimate goal, a FIFA World Cup championship."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2014: United States women's football coach Tom Sermanni sacked
October 2012: Scot chosen as new coach of US women's football team
September 2012: Gulati wants new US women's coach in place by end of October
September 2012: Sundhage steps down as US women's football coach following double Olympic triumph