Jorge Barcellos (Brazil) - As the coach of Brazilian U-20 side, Barcellos led his team beat the traditional powerhouse USA on penalties and finished third at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship Russia 2006.

Now Barcellos is taking over the Brazilian team and will lead them to fight in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Barcellos was once a player himself. He served at some amateur clubs in Japan between 1993 and 1994. After hanging up his boots, he decided to be a coach and earned a place on the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) technical committee in 2005.

Kenneth Heiner-Moller (Denmark) - Before becoming the national coach in July, Moller has just led the Brondby women's team winning both the league and the Cup. The 35-year-old has five-year coaching experience, and will be one of the youngest coaches at the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007.

Moller's beginning was not good, as Denmark lost in the qualifying in Finland, and in a friendly, they were defeated by Norway 2-1. Fortunately his first victory in the return leg ensured Denmark through to the finals in China.

Marika Domanski-Lyfors (China) - As the first foreign coach of China women's team, Domanski had been in charge of Sweden team for six years.

She led them qualify for two FIFA Women's World Cup finals, and sealed the runners-up at the Finals of USA 2003.

Before Domanski took the helm of the team in March, the Chinese team has suffered four straight defeats in the Algarve Cup. Former coach Ma Liangxing had left them for nearly three months because of an alleged heart problem. And Domanski's coming helped China women's team retrieve themselves.

John Herdman (New Zealand) - After coming to New Zealand from England in 2003, Herdman began to take charge of the women's team and became the Coach Development Manager for New Zealand Football. Last year, he led the U-20 side to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in Russia, and got a draw with Brazil, the eventual bronze medalists.

Herdman started his career in Sunderland Football Club as a youth coach. He became the head coach this March after senior coach Allan Jones resigned.

"This is a crucial time for women's football in New Zealand," he said, "We are hoping that with some credible performances on the world stage, our senior side can lead the game in New Zealand into a new era."