The new-look Utah Royals, an NWSL expansion club, have hired former U.S. women’s national team player Amy Rodriguez as their manager, a team source confirmed to The Athletic on Wednesday. ESPN first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- Rodriguez played for Utah from 2018 to 2020 before the last version of the club folded. She also won back-to-back NWSL titles with FC Kansas City in 2014 and 2015, earning championship game MVP honors in the latter.
- The 36-year-old has been an assistant coach with the USC women’s soccer team for the last two seasons. Rodriguez led USC to the 2007 national title as a player.
- Rodriguez debuted with the USWNT in 2005. She earned 132 caps, scoring 30 goals, and was part of the gold medal-winning 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams, as well as the 2015 World Cup-winning team.
Backstory
The Royals announced in March they will be returning to the NWSL in 2024.
Real Salt Lake owners Ryan Smith and David Blitzer will be part of the new Royals ownership structure, via Smith Entertainment Group (which includes the Utah Jazz and RSL, among other properties) and Global Football Holdings (Blizer’s investment group, which has stakes in the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, Cleveland Guardians and multiple European soccer clubs). Blitzer will…
