A day after U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis announced she would be stepping down from her role, former USWNT player Kate Markgraf is reportedly linked to become the program’s first general manager.
According to the Washington Post, Markgraf is the clear front-runner to become GM. Markgraf won 201 caps as a player with the USWNT over a 12-year career, which saw her participate in two World Cups and two Olympics.
Markgraf said on ESPN the likely USWNT coaching candidates are Laura Harvey, Paul Riley, Vlatko Andonovski & Mark Krikorian. Markgraf would be in charge of the hire if she becomes GM. I'm hearing federation leadership would likely prefer a woman as coach—only one here is Harvey. https://t.co/NMtYSQ7TbW
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 31, 2019
Markgraf is currently a commentator for ESPN and has also appeared on Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and the Big Ten Channel.
Should Markgraf be hired, her first task would be to find a replacement for Ellis, who is leaving her position following the upcoming Victory Tour for the World Cup winners.
Several options have been mentioned with the head coaching job including Paul Riley of the NWSL’s North Carolina Courage, Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski, Utah Royals and former U.S. U-23 WNT head coach Laura Harvey, and Florida State’s Mark Krikorian.
The USWNT open its Victory Tour on Aug. 3rd in Pasadena against the Republic of Ireland. It also will face Portugal on Aug. 29th and Sept. 3rd respectively, while Oct. 3rd and 6th matches have yet to list an opponent.
GREAT choice of Kate as GM. IMHO, her first task should be to choose Michelle Akers as the new Women’s Head Coach. Michelle is a winner, and would keep the USWNT on their winning ways.
To me , looks like a corrupt politician .
Did you all hear her commentary during the WC? She is super sharp, knows tons about the game, way better than the other analysts. I was impressed.
Is she hiring a coach or picking a team? Because if she thinks she can help pick the team that’s competing power centers as at many MLS teams these days.
a lot bunch Botox in that face.
Great soccer comment!
I just pick on her weird aging looks.
on this blog we regularly see comments about the physical appearance of male footballing directors, officials and players.
Yeah Gulati really looks Willy Wonka lil dudes.
yes, because what we should do as soon as we win a world cup, is do it all differently and create conflicting power centers, a boss the head coach has to worry about and conform to. has worked like a dream for the men and for my houston dynamo.
Haha yeah — gotta agree I’ve yet to really see the value of the GM role at the national team level yet. Most likely Cordeiro looked at Gulati’s demise and said “That’ ain’t happening to me”. So he decided to stick another layer of “people I can fire if the on-field performances aren’t good” into the system. Goldman Sachs at its finest.
the first task of all institutions in modern society is to create a situation of unaccountability. accountability is only something that happens to “weak people.”