Coaching career
Ireland (assistant coach)
In September 2019, Vera Pauw, the incoming manager of the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, appointed Gleeson as her assistant.[11] The two built a strong working relationship during Ireland's unsuccessful UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying Group I campaign, and Pauw was disappointed when Gleeson accepted a head coach role with Glasgow City in October 2021.[12]
Gleeson signed off with a 2-1 away win over Finland. The team subsequently went on to qualify for their first world cup finals appearance with a playoff win over Scotland in October 2022.
Glasgow City
Glasgow City announced that Gleeson would take over as their new head coach in November 2021, part way through the 2021–22 Scottish Women's Premier League season.[13] The team had dropped points against their rivals Celtic and Rangers and sat 3rd in the table under interim coach Grant Scott. City, who had won the previous 14 titles were eventually beaten to the championship by Rangers – The team rallied under Gleeson to score 55 goals in 18 games securing Champions League Qualification ahead of Celtic. They lost out to Celtic in both the Cup Finals.
The draw for the 2022/23 Champions league pitted Glasgow in a qualifying group with Paris FC, Roma and Servette, who had beaten City the previous campaign. A 3-1 loss to Roma and a 1 - 0 defeat to Servette ended the campaign early.
In the 2022–23 Scottish Women's Premier League season, Glasgow City got off to a flying start with 11 wins and 1 draw in their first 12 games. They sat on top of the table at the end of 2022. It came as a surprise when it was announced that Gleeson was stepping down to return to Ireland. "I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to all at the club for providing the opportunity to be involved with such an iconic women's football club such as Glasgow City," she said. Glasgow City ultimately regained the championship under Leanne Ross, who was promoted from Assistant to Head Coach after Gleeson's departure.
In total Gleeson oversaw 30 SWPL games, winning 26 and losing just once.
Ireland (head coach)
In August 2023, Gleeson was appointed interim coach following the departure of Pauw,[14] and in December 2023 her appointment was made permanent.[15]
Gleeson's first four months in the role saw a perfect record in the first edition of the UEFA Women's Nations League, as the Republic of Ireland won all six of their group games,[16] securing promotion to UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying League A. League A proved more challenging as the side suffered defeats home and away to England and Sweden and were relegated back to Nations League B, albeit recording a 3-1 home win against France and securing seeding for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs.[17] Ireland were drawn against Georgia in the first round of the playoffs, winning 9-0 on aggregate across two legs. In the second round of qualification, they faced Wales, against whom they lost 3-2 on aggregate, missing out on qualification to Euro 2025.[18]
In December 2024, Gleeson's tenure as head coach came to an end as the FAI chose not to offer her a new contract.[19]