Former United States head coach Jill Ellis is leaving her role as San Diego Wave FC president to become chief football officer at FIFA.
Ellis, 58, has been Waves president since the club joined the National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) in 2021.
Before that, she had won two World Cups with the USWNT during her five-year stint as head coach between 2014 and 2019. Ellis previously held a variety of coaching roles in the U.S. youth set-up.
I am honoured to join FIFA in this pioneering role and to contribute to the growth of football from a global perspective, Ellis said. FIFA has a unique ability, through football, to unite communities and to drive the games development worldwide.
Having experienced football, from grassroots programmes up to senior national-team level, Ive seen first-hand its transformative power.
As part of her new role, FIFA says Ellis will work alongside former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has been the organizations chief of global football development since 2019.
Ellis role at FIFA is a newly-created position, which FIFA says is responsible for helping to drive the development and implementation of FIFAs global football strategy.
Jills experience, enthusiasm and outstanding achievements make her the perfect choice for this role, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom added. She has been a true inspiration for many, and I look forward to seeing the impact of her work continue to inspire many more around the world.
FIFA is very proud to have Jill and Arsene, two of the great football leaders and thinkers, to help us make our vision for football a reality. Her appointment demonstrates FIFAs commitment to the future of the game and to creating more opportunities for the next generation.
Earlier this year, Ellis and Wave were found not to have violated the NWSLs policies or the law after a former employee alleged that the team perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated a complete disregard for (employees) long-term mental health by a former employee. Wave strongly denied the allegations, which Ellis called false.
Since then, five former Wave employees have filed a lawsuit against the club and NWSL though Ellis is not named as a defendant over multiple claims of discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and sexual harassment.
San Diego Wave and NWSL face discrimination lawsuit filed by five former club employees
The making of Jill Ellis: How the U.S. womens national team coach started her life over in soccer
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
US Women’s national team, San Diego Wave, International Football, UK Women’s Football
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