Helena Costa has quit her job at Clermont (Picture: Getty)

Helena Costa, the first female football manager to take charge of a men’s team in the top two divisions, has resigned from her post before the new season has even begun.

The 36-year-old was officially appointed in charge of Ligue 2 side Clermont on March 22, but in a move described as ‘sudden and surprising’, she has resigned before even meeting her players.

Some members of the Clermont squad had called the decision to appoint Costa ‘a joke’ at the time, but no official real has been given behind her decision.

Clermont’s president Claude Michy told reporters in an official statement that it was a ‘big regret’ to appoint Costa, a former scout at Celtic.

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