January 17 – While Angel City FC (ACFC) have not won anything on the pitch, anything they do off the pitch is big news, and that trend continues with the announcement that the club has appointed Mark Parsons as the team’s new sporting director ahead of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season to oversee all matters related to soccer operations.
His duties in the upcoming season will be to supervise the technical staff, scouting and analytics departments, sports medical, and player care.
It was just last September that media mogul Bob Iger purchased the controlling interest in the club with his wife Willow Bay, and they have been swift to make structural moves.
“It is an honor to become part of Angel City Football Club, a trailblazing and ambitious organization setting new standards in the game,” Parsons said in a statement.
“I am grateful to Willow, Bob, and Julie for their trust and look forward to working closely with ownership and the exceptional leadership team to build on the solid foundation they’ve established. My focus is to foster a culture of excellence, development, and togetherness that elevates ACFC to new heights, with the goal of bringing championships home to the city of Los Angeles.”
Parsons has had a great deal of success in the NWSL winning two NWSL shields in 2016 and 2021, the 2017 NWSL championship as well as the NWSL Challenge Cup with the Portland Thorns.
ACFC co-founder and president, Julie Uhrman, said: “Mark brings exceptional experience in the domestic and global game. As we enter 2025 with the opening of our state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot performance center, Mark will lead our sporting operations, driving our culture and championship ambitions alongside our outstanding leadership team and staff.
“Together, we aim to set a high standard for excellence-on and off the pitch-and we’re ready to bring home the championship in this exciting new chapter.”
Parsons, who after leaving Portland Thorns in 2021 coached the Netherlands women’s team and NWSL side Washington Spirit last season, will have his hands full though as ACFC missed out on the play-offs last season compiling a miserable 7-13-6 record.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1737137373labto1737137373ofdlr1737137373owedi1737137373sni@o1737137373fni1737137373