A journalist, football reporter and presenter, Sioned Dafydd is currently S4C’s lead football correspondent in Wales covering both the men’s and women’s national teams and domestic leagues.

Having worked as a pitch side reporter at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Nations League, UEFA Men’s Euro 2024 Qualifying, UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifying, UEFA Conference League & Emirates FA Cup; Sioned brings vast experience in her field.

Sioned will be hosting the National Coaches Conference this year. 

Cymru Chief Football Officer Dr David Adams has a wealth of experience working within the football system, from lecturing at the University of South Wales to working at Premier League level Swansea City as Head of Coaching, before an eventual move to the FAW as technical director.

Playing a pivotal role in the development of the Welsh Way, Dr Adams is critical in the implementation of the four pillars within Welsh football, looking at Talent ID, effective pathways for progression, support services and the coaching system.

Jurgen Klopp is one of the most influential managers of recent footballing history; synonymous with his spell at Liverpool FC, winning the club a Premier League title and guiding the team to Champions League success during his time in charge.

Beginning his coaching career at former club Mainz 05, Klopp earned the now Bundesliga side promotion back to the German top-flight during his tenure, before eventually moving to Borussia Dortmund, where he won two Bundesliga titles in succession.

Stepping away from Liverpool in 2024, Klopp now works with Red Bull as their Head of Global Football, and will be speaking at the National Coaches Conference as part of a theory session.

Former Real Madrid and Turkey midfielder Nuri Şahin returns to the National Coaches Conference this year, after hosting a practical delivery session at a previous event.

The current manager of Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir, Sahin returns with experience managing in Champions League games with Borussia Dortmund, the club he once played for.

The former Antalyaspor boss holds several domestic honours as a player, with both a La Liga and Bundesliga title to his name; whilst also studying for his Pro Licence with the FAW.

Currently an assistant with Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir, Luke Benstead returns to the FAW National Coaches Conference to host a practical session at this year’s event.

A former analyst with the Belgian National team working alongside fellow FAW Coach Education Graduates Thierry Henry and Roberto Martinez, Benstead has worked across a variety of clubs in Europe alongside his international team exploits. Benstead is an FAW/UEFA Pro Licence holder.

Currently Cymru WU15 National Team Head Coach & Assistant Coach for the WU17 within the FAW. Playing a key role in developing and supporting players in the FAW. 

Previously spending eight years at Stoke City Women working across the Girls Academy & as the Senior Women’s Head Coach. In both roles, he has helped develop many players to progress into WSL clubs since making their debuts and more making their Senior International debuts. 

Currently Head Coach of the Singapore U19’s Women’s National Team, Manisha Tailor MBE holds over 20 years’ experience across all levels of the game. Formerly a Women’s U21 College Head Coach at Tottenham Hotspur, Tailor won the Middlesex Schools FA Trophy whilst at Spurs and has also held an Assistant Head of Coaching Role at QPR, managing CPD programmes and player development at the club. Having exposure from Grassroots to the Elite game, scouting and player development, Manisha Tailor MBE has experience throughout several facets of the footballing landscape.

Dane Facey is Academy Head of Coaching at Cardiff City Football Club, holding his position at the Bluebirds for several years.

Facey has also held assistant coaching positions within the Cymru youth sides, working with Craig Knight as part of the U17’s set-up at the European Championships in 2024.

The Bluebirds academy coach will be hosting a practical session alongside Tom Hutton, focusing on the process of Developing the individual as a Cardiff City Case study.

Tom Hutton is the Lead U18 Coach at Cardiff City Football Club, whilst also holding a position as the Cymru Men’s U19 Assistant Coach.

Having been with the Bluebirds for over 10 years, the former Academy Development Coach moved from an initial analysis role, helping the Cardiff City FC Women pick up the league title in 2012/13.

Hutton will be hosting a practical session alongside Dane Facey, focusing on the process of Developing the individual as a Cardiff City Case study.

Chief Executive Officer at the Football Association of Wales, Noel Mooney has worked across top level organisations in Europe, including as UEFA’s Head of National Associations Business Development, and within the Football Association of Ireland.

Having previously played as a goalkeeper for teams such as Limerick, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland, the FAW CEO was part of the team that won the FAI Cup in 1998.

The FAW CEO will be opening the evenings events at the National Coaches Conference this year, highlighting some of the major successes in Welsh football across the organisation.

A former central midfielder that played over 300 games for Leicester City, Andy King has several honours with the Foxes, being a part of the sides that won League One, the Championship and the Premier League; making him the first and only player to win the top three divisions with the same team in the Premier League era.

King was also a Cymru international and will be discussing his time as part of the side that reached the Semi-Final in 2016 during a Q&A panel event a decade after the tournament.

A former Cymru international with over 500 club appearances to his name, Chris Gunter has also achieved over a century of international caps for his country and now manages the Cymru U19’s Men’s national side.

As a former member of Cymru’s famous 2016 side, Gunter will be discussing his memories of the tournament during a 2016 Q&A Panel event during the FAW National Coaches Conference.

A former defender with over 300 club appearances, Neil Taylor was a former Cymru international that played for sides such as Swansea City and Aston Villa in the Premier League during his career.

Currently a part of the Cymru Men’s U21 management team as an assistant, Taylor achieved over 40 caps for his country as a player.

As a member of Cymru’s famous 2016 squad, Taylor will be reliving his memories of the tournament as part of a Q&A event during the FAW National Coaches Conference.

A former Cymru international with nearly 400 club appearances, Aaron Ramsey was a former midfielder that featured for Arsenal and Juventus during a playing career that saw several honours.

Winning three FA Cups with the Gunners and a Serie A title with Juventus, Ramsey also appeared 86 times for his country, whilst also playing in France, Scotland and Mexico. Ramsey is an FAW/UEFA A Licence holder and currently studying for his UEFA Pro Licence with the FAW.

A Swansea City first-team consultant, former Bristol Rovers Caretaker manager and Stockport County assistant Andy Mangan joins the FAW National Coaches Conference, hosting a practical session at this year’s event.

Previously a forward for Accrington Stanley, Wrexham and Fleetwood Town, the Liverpool born ex-striker has studied for his Pro Licence with the FAW and coached across the globe.

Mangan previously coached as an assistant alongside fellow FAW Coach Education graduate Davide Ancelotti at Brazilian side Botofogo; before joining Vitor Matos at the Swans in the Championship earlier this year, another FAW Pro Licence holder.

Former Cymru international midfielder and previous Atlanta United assistant coach Carl Robinson will be hosting a practical session at this year’s FAW National Coaches Conference, focusing on an MLS Case study.

The FAW Pro Licence holder has experience in coaching across the globe, working in Australia for the Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Warriors; whilst also holding experience in the MLS with both the Vancouver Whitecaps and aforementioned Atlanta United.

Robinson also worked alongside Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City as a first-team coach, and amassed over 400 appearances as a player for various teams, along with over 50 caps for Cymru.

A former France international and three-time Premier League winner, Gael Clichy is a serial prize-winner within top level football. Currently in charge of SM Caen in the French third division, the former defender has also been a part of the French U21 management team as an assistant coach, whilst completing his coaching licences with the FAW. 

Clichy was a member of the PFA team of the year in 2007-08, and has also played within Turkey and Switzerland during the latter stages of his playing career, winning the Super-Lig in 2019-20 with İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. Clichy is an FAW/UEFA Pro Licence holder.

Currently first team goalkeeping coach at Oxford United, former Cymru International Lewis Price will be hosting a practical session at this year’s National Coaches Conference.

A playing career that saw the former shot-stopper play in both the Premier League and Football League for several clubs; the former Derby County and Ipswich keeper has spent his time working in coaching since his playing career ended.

First working at AFC Bournemouth in the Under-21 set-up following retirement as a player, Price later joined Milton Keynes Dons as a first team goalkeeping coach back in 2021 and will be delivering a Goalkeeping session at the conference this year.

Current Cymru Men’s National Team Manager and former international Craig Bellamy has experienced football at the top level of the game throughout his career.

Earning 78 caps for his country as a player, Bellamy also played for topflight teams such as West Ham United, Liverpool and Manchester City, winning the Football League Cup with the Reds in the 2011-12 season.

The former Cymru forward will be delivering a practical session at this years National Coaches Conference, alongside fellow Cymru coach Piet Cremers, focusing on a Welsh Way case study. Bellamy has achieved his FAW/UEFA Pro Licence.

Currently an assistant coach within the Cymru Men's national side, Piet Cremers has held roles across the top level of the game.

Working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for four years and progressing to Head of Performance Analysis & Insights, the Dutch native also worked alongside Cymru head coach Craig Bellamy at Burnley.

Having completed his Coach Education with the FAW, Cremers holds an appreciation for the Welsh Way, and will be hosting a practical session on the subject at this years National Coaches Conference.

The current manager of the Portugal Men’s National Team, Roberto Martinez started his managerial career in Wales with Swansea City – where he won the EFL League One title and Manager of the Year award. Martinez gained experience coaching in the English Premier League with both Wigan and Everton.

Having completed his UEFA Pro Licence with the FAW, the Spaniard has since gone on to manage some of the World’s biggest stars on the international stage as Manager of both the Belgium and Portugal national teams. In 2025, Martinez’s Portugal side – featuring players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva – won the UEFA Nations League.

Adam Ridgewell is an Account Manager at Genius Sports where he looks after the Premier League, Championship and British National teams.

Prior to joining Genius Sports, Adam was a Performance Analyst for 15 years working at various levels and clubs including Southampton, Doncaster Rovers and The F.A.

James Turner is the lead analyst with the Cymru Men’s Senior Team at FAW. James has been working as an analyst at FAW since 2010. Starting work with the U17 & U19 teams, James first worked for the Senior Team in 2015 & became lead analyst in 2018.

With over 120 matches with the senior team, James has been lucky enough to work with a range of managers & coaches & go to three major tournaments with the national team. 

Current Cymru Women’s National Team Manager Rhian Wilkinson holds vast experience as a player with 183 international caps for Canada to her name, and the former defender holds just as much knowledge within her international coaching career.

Having previously worked as an assistant coach for the Canadian Women and England Women National teams, Wilkinsons most recent success came at the helm of the Portland Thorns, winning the NWSL championship in 2022 whilst in charge of the team.

The Cymru boss will be discussing a theory session at the NCC this year, taking part in a Q&A event on Transformational and Adaptable Leaders. Wilkinson is also an FAW/UEFA Pro Licence holder.

The former interim head coach of Chicago Stars FC, Ella Masar is a former professional footballer with a decorated 10-year playing career at the highest levels of the game.

The American-born forward won two Frauen-Bundesliga titles with VfL Wolfsburg, alongside two DFB-Pokal Frauen during her spell in Germany. Masar also won silverware during a spell in Sweden, achieving two Swedish Cup titles for FC Rosengård.

Masar will be speaking as part of a panel event at this year’s FAW National Coaches Conference, discussing transformational and adaptable leaders.

A retired Republic of Ireland international forward, Jonathan Walters is currently the sporting director at Stoke City, the club where he made over 200 appearances during his playing career.

Appearing for various teams across English top-flight system, Walters also played for sides such as Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Ipswich Town during his playing days.

Walters will be speaking as part of an expert panel on transformational and adaptable leaders at this year’s National Coaches Conference and holds his Pro Licence with the FAW.

A former Australian international midfielder, James Holland is currently a first-team coach at Crystal Palace, working under Oliver Glasner at the Premier League side.

A playing career that spanned both Europe and Australia, Holland enjoyed a five-year stint at Austrian side LASK, making over 100 appearances for the club, whilst also winning the A-League with the Newcastle Jets, as well as the Austrian Bundesliga with Austria Wien.

Holland will be speaking as part of an expert panel on transformational and adaptable leaders at this year’s National Coaches Conference and is currently studying for his Pro Licence with the FAW.

A former Scottish international defender with five promotion winning seasons to his name as a player, Russell Martin will be delivering a Tactical Masterclass session with the Coaches Voice at this year’s FAW National Coaches Conference.

Formerly manager of both Rangers and Swansea City, Martin led Southampton to Premier League promotion during his time with the Saints and has delivered both theory and practical sessions at previous NCC events.

Cymru Chief Football Officer Dr David Adams has a wealth of experience working within the football system, from lecturing at the University of South Wales to working at Premier League level Swansea City as Head of Coaching, before an eventual move to the FAW as technical director.

Playing a pivotal role in the development of the Welsh Way, Dr Adams is critical in the implementation of the four pillars within Welsh football, looking at Talent ID, effective pathways for progression, support services and the coaching system.