In a significant move for the Portland Thorns, Jeff Agoos, a former U.S. national team defender and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, has been appointed as the new president of soccer operations and general manager of the club. This announcement came on Tuesday, following the departure of Karina LeBlanc, who has transitioned to an executive role with RAJ Sports, the family-owned enterprise responsible for the National Women’s Soccer League team and an upcoming WNBA team set to debut in 2026.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Agoos remarked that he believes the NWSL is benefiting from expansive growth in women’s sports. “I think the NWSL has great tailwinds — the women’s game and women’s sports are really growing by leaps and bounds,” he stated. He emphasized his eagerness to return to the sport on the club level, indicating his dedication to fostering success within the league.
During his distinguished career, Agoos made his mark as a defender for the U.S. national team over 15 seasons, representing the country in both the 2000 Olympics and the 2002 World Cup. His journey included a memorable moment where he famously burned his jersey after being cut from the 1994 World Cup roster, but he later secured a spot on the 1998 squad, although he did not see any action in that tournament. Over the course of his international appearances, which totaled 134, he netted four goals.
In Major League Soccer, Agoos achieved considerable success, winning three championships with D.C. United and adding two more with the San Jose Earthquakes. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009. After retiring from playing, Agoos took on various roles including serving as the technical director for the New York Red Bulls from 2007 to 2011, followed by several positions within MLS, culminating in his role as senior vice president of competition, operations, and medical.
Discussing his decision to join the Thorns, Agoos highlighted the club’s prominent status within the NWSL, noting, “The Thorns are a premier club in the NWSL, but really, more expansively, they have a global brand and have an incredible fan following, so there were a lot of reasons to be drawn to this club.” He shared that after spending 14 years in the league office, he longed for the competitive environment of club management, which drove his return to the team side of soccer.
Moreover, Portland has introduced Lucy Rushton, previously the general manager at Bay FC, and Angus McNab as strategic advisers to the club, indicating a strong support system to assist Agoos in his new role. The Thorns, known as one of the original NWSL teams, ended the previous season ranked sixth in the league and faced an early exit from the playoffs at the hands of Gotham FC.
