The Portland Thorns named Jeff Agoos as the club’s next general manager Tuesday, continuing a rebuild that has included a coaching change and the departure of previous GM Karina LeBlanc.
“I’m honored to be part of such a prestigious club. The Thorns have a renowned legacy, and my focus is to provide the leadership necessary to ensure our on-field success, keeping the team at the top of the league and competing for championships,” Agoos said in a statement.
Agoos, 56, replaces LeBlanc, who left the position at the end of the 2024 season for a new role with investment firm RAJ Sports. LeBlanc served as GM for three years after taking over the role in November 2021 when the club’s previous general manager, Gavin Wilkinson, was placed on administrative leave amidst a team investigation into how it handled a complaint against coach Paul Riley.
Agoos has long been a respected figure in U.S. soccer. Agoos was part of the United States men’s national team squads for the 1998 and 2002 World Cup, after memorably being the final player cut from the 1994 roster that represented the host nation. The defender earned the last of his 134 international caps in 2003. Agoos was also a defensive bedrock for D.C. United as it won three of the first four MLS Cups in 1996, 1997 and 1999….
