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Patricia Pérez Ferraro / SPP
Lorne Donaldson is the brand new head coach of the Chicago Purple Stars, the group introduced on Wednesday. Donaldson has in depth expertise in growing U.S. youth expertise and most just lately served as head coach of Jamaica’s ladies’s nationwide group, guiding Jamaica to the Spherical of 16 on the 2023 World Cup.
Donaldson made his title as a participant and coach within the Denver space, the place he performed an influential function in growing younger gamers who grew to become U.S. nationwide group stars, together with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith. Swanson is an unrestricted free agent who has performed for Chicago since 2021.
“Lorne has a confirmed observe report as a profitable coach and an advocate for his athletes,” new Purple Stars majority proprietor and government chairperson Laura Ricketts stated. “We imagine he has the expertise and management abilities to raise our proficient group of gamers. Because the president of the elite youth membership Actual Colorado, Lorne additionally has deep ties to among the most interesting U.S. gamers.”
Donaldson is the second full-time Black head coach in National Women’s Soccer League historical past. Seb Hines grew to become the primary when he grew to become the league’s first full-time Black coach forward of the 2023 season.
The Red Stars fired former head coach Chris Petrucelli previous to the tip of the 2023 NWSL season. Chicago completed final within the 12-team league, with 24 factors from 22 video games, and struggled by giant stretches of the season. The Purple Stars roster has been decimated by participant exits in consecutive seasons — with more expected to come via free-agency exits — following final yr’s experiences on the allegedy poisonous, enabling conduct of former proprietor Arnim Whisler.
A bunch led by Ricketts bought the Red Stars in September and promised immediate changes. A coach is a begin.
“I’m excited to work with this proficient group that features among the NWSL’s finest gamers to show the Chicago Purple Stars right into a championship membership each on and off the pitch,” Donaldson stated. “I sit up for partnering with Laura Ricketts and Karen Leetzow, who’re dedicated to making a tradition of excellence and accountability. What I’ve most loved in my profession is teaching elite athletes and serving to them attain and exceed their fullest potential.”
On the 2023 World Cup, Jamaica defeated Concacaf rival Panama and held each France and Brazil to scoreless attracts within the group stage. The outcomes allowed Jamaica to advance out of Group F alongside France, sending international heavyweight Brazil to a stunning group-stage exit.
Donaldson was on the helm for Jamaica in 2022 when the group completed third in Concacaf qualifying, which certified the group for the World Cup and a berth within the Olympic play-in sequence (which Canada received in September). An ongoing challenge throughout Donaldson’s time there, nonetheless, was a well-recognized one: the Jamaican federation’s lack of monetary dedication to maintain success. That led to Donaldson’s exit and a widespread participant boycott just lately that finally price Jamaica a spot within the first Girls’s Gold Cup, which can start in February.
Donaldson is predicted to hitch the Purple Stars forward of the NWSL Draft on Jan. 12. Presently, the Purple Stars maintain the No. 3 general decide because the worst finisher from 2023. Enlargement groups Utah Royals FC and Bay FC maintain the primary and second picks, respectively.
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