Tihana Nemcic is breaking new ground in soccer and society.

The former model and current professional soccer player has been named head coach of Croatian fifth division club NK Viktorija Vojakovac — a men’s team, World Soccer reports.

“I am the head coach and I have full liberty to create and plan the team’s tactics,” World Soccer reports Nemcic told 24 sata. “The guys know the game, but there is a lot more to do.”

Nemcic, 24, played for the women’s team of Croatian heavyweight Dinamo Zagreb as well as the country’s national team. She brushed aside suggestions that her hiring was some sort of gimmick, citing the many years she has spent at the highest level of the women’s game.

“If a woman and a man have the same professional qualifications for a coaching job, I see no reason why I should not get into male football,” she said. “We are a great team and we all want to improve and reach the top of our league.”

Few, if any, other women lead men’s soccer clubs around the world and Nemcic is thought to be a pioneer in this respect. Should she lead what is undoubtedly a semi-professional club up the standings, it will open many doors for her and NK Viktorija Vojakovac’s players.

Nemcic was among 15 finalists for the title of Croatia Miss Sport in 2008. Four years later, she is breaking ground for female tacticians around the world.

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Photo via Facebook/Tihana Nemcic