Anja Heiner-Moller has made a conscious habit of saying yes to opportunities over her long soccer career.

Now the Danish coach is seizing a big one as she becomes the first head coach of Vancouver Rise FC B次元官网网址� and sheB次元官网网址檚 creating chances for others in the process.

B次元官网网址淭his is about opportunity to create role models and leaders,B次元官网网址� Heiner-Moller said on a video call Thursday. B次元官网网址淪o we have a huge opportunity to inspire a lot of girls and boys and youth in Vancouver with this team. And IB次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to that.B次元官网网址�

Heiner-Moller, 46, joins the Northern Super League club following two years as head coach of DenmarkB次元官网网址檚 U-19 national womenB次元官网网址檚 team.

Despite a nine-hour time difference between Denmark and Vancouver, sheB次元官网网址檚 been following the development of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first professional womenB次元官网网址檚 league closely over the past three years.

B次元官网网址淔or Canada to have this league, itB次元官网网址檚 just a huge deal,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 just feel the joy for these girls to have a womenB次元官网网址檚 team to look up to.B次元官网网址�

Heiner-Moller knows what itB次元官网网址檚 like to have limited options as a player.

She played in more than 250 games for Danish clubs Brondby IF, Odense Boldklub and Hillerod G & I, and represented Denmark in 44 national team games before having to choose between playing and her studies in her mid-20s.

B次元官网网址淚 jumped directly into coaching and I havenB次元官网网址檛 been out of it since,B次元官网网址� said the UEFA Pro licensed coach who also has a masterB次元官网网址檚 degree in sports science.

Before taking over DenmarkB次元官网网址檚 U-19 squad, Heiner-Moller coached in the Danish womenB次元官网网址檚 league. She also spent three years as an academy coach with Vancouver Whitecaps FC and North Shore Girls Soccer Club between 2018 to 2020 when her husband Kenneth Heiner-Moller was head coach of the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 team.

The Heiner-Moller family B次元官网网址� which includes two teenage daughters B次元官网网址� has long wanted to return to Vancouver, Anja Heiner-Moller said.

B次元官网网址淧eople are open-minded, itB次元官网网址檚 a multicultural place, people are respectful,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 love the mountains, I love the outdoor life, the ocean is there, the forest. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what you donB次元官网网址檛 have, actually.B次元官网网址�

There will be many flights in the familyB次元官网网址檚 future, however. Earlier this month, Kenneth Heiner-Moller was announced as technical director of Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 San Diego FC ahead of the expansion clubB次元官网网址檚 first season.

B次元官网网址淲e had huge decisions to make at the same time and we decided these are two careers. We didnB次元官网网址檛 want to say no to any of these (opportunities),B次元官网网址� Anja Heiner-Moller said. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to say two yeses, so thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檝e done.B次元官网网址�

Rise sporting director Stephanie Labb茅 is glad they did.

The club had B次元官网网址渁 ton of interestB次元官网网址� in the head coach job, she said, and Heiner-Moller was a candidate who quickly stood out.

B次元官网网址淔rom the first interview we did with Anja, I could see that our vision and goals really aligned well, along with playing style,B次元官网网址� Labb茅 said.

Heiner-MollerB次元官网网址檚 plan for a possession-based, attack-focused team fit with what Rise wanted, she added. The club also liked the tactical knowledge and attention to detail she brings, as well as the way she spoke about working with young players.

B次元官网网址�(We liked) AnjaB次元官网网址檚 character and her passion for wanting to help athletes not just grow as athletes but as individuals and as humans,B次元官网网址� Labb茅 said.

With just months to go before the inaugural NSL kicks off in April 2025, Labb茅, Heiner-Moller and the rest of the club still have ample work to do.

More announcements about additions to the team will come soon, Labb茅 said, noting that sheB次元官网网址檚 been working on building the roster for months.

Rise wants to sign top-quality players in order to build a team that can compete not only in the NSL, but in tournaments such as the CONCACAF Champions Cup, she said.

B次元官网网址淔irst and foremost, weB次元官网网址檙e looking to bring in players with professional experience,B次元官网网址� the sporting director said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 the key, to make sure we have leaders in the locker room, that we have players whoB次元官网网址檝e been through a professional year, professional season and they can help bring that professionalism to help teach as well.B次元官网网址�

Heiner-Moller isnB次元官网网址檛 deterred by the challenge ahead.

B次元官网网址淲omenB次元官网网址檚 soccer is growing so fast. ItB次元官网网址檚 crazy to look back and see how much itB次元官网网址檚 improved in years,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 just feel joy about the under 19s IB次元官网网址檓 coaching now that their value as a soccer player is growing, itB次元官网网址檚 exploding. And all the opportunities are just open for them.B次元官网网址�