Mark Parsons signed a “long-term contract extension” to stay as(Photo: Portland Thorns FC)
Mark Parsons is staying in Portland for the long haul.
Portland Thorns FC announced on Tuesday that the 30-year-old coach signed a “long-term contract extension” with the club. Goalkeeper coach and former player Nadine Angerer – the 2013 FIFA World Player of the Year – also signed an extension to serve as the club’s director of goalkeeping.
Terms of each deal were not specified by the club.
Parsons led the Thorns to a first-place finish in the regular season in 2016, his first campaign in charge of the NWSL’s most high-profile club after two-plus seasons in charge of the Washington Spirit. The Shield-winning Thorns (12-3-5, 41 pts.) hosted a played in a playoff game at home for the first time, a long-time goal of the inaugural league champions in 2013. But Portland was upset, 4-3 by the No. 4 seed and eventual champion Western New York Flash in a wild match that went to extra time.
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Parsons was named 2016 NWSL Coach of the Year.
“We are delighted to announce that Mark Parsons and Nadine Angerer have signed new contracts, and we all look forward to continuing to build on the initial success the club achieved in their first season on staff,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for Thorns FC. “Mark is among the best coaches in the NWSL, and he and his staff did an incredible job in guiding the club to its first NWSL Shield in 2016. Nadine is one of the all-time greats to play the position, and her experience and guidance will continue to be invaluable to the coaching staff and our players.”
Angerer played for Portland in 2014 and 2015, appearing in 28 matches. She is a two-time World Cup-winner, amassing 146 caps with Germany.
