May 15, 2008 - Having led her teams to a several European titles, Arsenal Ladies coach Emma Hayes will bring her expertise to Chicago as the inaugural head coach and director of soccer operations for Chicago Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).

Chicago general manager Marcia McDermott announced the hire today at Toyota Park, where the franchise will play when the WPS season begins in April 2009.

“Emma has succeeded at every level she has coached,” McDermott said. “We feel she has the right experience, the passion and the knowledge to be a great leader for our club. She is prepared to take on the challenge of building a professional team from the onset.”

Hayes, 31, said it took a special opportunity to lure her away from Arsenal.

“This will be the best league in the world, with the greatest players, the best facilities and the biggest challenge,” Hayes said. “All of that will make this the league the rest of the world will watch.”

(more…)

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March 04, 2008 - Ian Sawyers, who guided the CyberRays to the inaugural Women’s United Soccer Association championship in 2001, has been named coach and general manager of the New Jersey team that will play in the new women’s professional league next year.

“I always wanted to get back into the professional game if I had the opportunity,” said Sawyers, who is married to former U.S. women’s national team captain and Hall of Famer Julie Foudy. “I was offered a second chance at something I really believe in. It’s a great opportunity and I hope we can make it work.”

Sawyers and Foudy, along with their daughter, 1-year-old Isabel, will relocate to New Jersey from California…

 Read full Star-Ledger article 

In other news, Foudy is going to serve as a consultant of the New York-New Jersey franchise when the Women’s Professional Soccer league debuts next year. Asked if Sawyer might be able to lure her out of retirement, Foudy said she loves being a mom and her role will be more ambassadorial.

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