THE Football Association of Wales has announced that the new Wales national women’s teams manager is Jayne Ludlow.

The former Arsenal and Wales striker replaces the departing Jarmo Matikainen.

A statement from the FAW reads: "Jayne’s contribution to women’s football, both for club and country, has been immense.

"She has been an inspiration to the current women’s senior and intermediate squads and was described by previous Wales manager Jarmo Matikainen as the best women’s player Wales has ever produced."

Ludlow represented Arsenal for 13 years and remains the club’s all-time record goal scorer.

Born in Llwynypia, she has also played for Barry Town Ladies, Millwall Lionesses and Southampton Saints.

At club level she won the FA Women’s Premier League National Division on nine occasions and the FA Women’s Cup on eight.

In 2006-07 she was a member of the Arsenal team that won the UEFA Women’s Cup.

She won her first international cap in 1996 aged just 17 and went on to play 61 times for her country scoring 19 goals.

Recently Ludlow has been manager and director of Reading Women. and has also been involved with coaching the Wales under-16s.