Mark Parsons, the renowned former coach of the Portland Thorns and the Netherlands national team, has been named the new sporting director and general manager of Angel City FC.
In a move that marks a new chapter for the club, Parsons takes over following the mutual departure of Angela Hucles Mangano, who left the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team in December. Hucles Mangano has since accepted a position with the Houston Dash.
One of Parsons’ main responsibilities will be finding a new head coach. This follows Angel City’s decision to part ways with Becki Tweed after a difficult campaign, where the team went 7-13-6 last season.
Julie Uhrman, co-founder and president of Angel City, expressed her excitement in a statement: “Mark brings exceptional experience in domestic and global gaming. As we prepare for 2025, with the launch of our state-of-the-art performance center in 50,000 square feet, Mark will lead our sports operations, championing our culture and championship aspirations alongside our exceptional management team and staff.”
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Prior to his time with the Thorns, Parsons was the head coach of the Washington Spirit from 2013 to 2015. His six-year tenure in Portland was particularly successful, culminating with an NWSL title in 2017.
Parsons’ journey took her to the Dutch national team in late 2021, but her time there was cut short after the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Women’s European Championship. He then returned to the Spirit for a single season in 2022.
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