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 Wave’s president since the club joined the 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 game’s development worldwide. Having experienced football, from grassroots programmes up to senior national-team level, I’ve 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 organization’s chief of global football development since 2019.
(INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
Ellis’ role at FIFA is a newly-created position, which FIFA says is responsible for helping to drive “the development and implementation of FIFA’s global football strategy”.
“Jill’s 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 FIFA’s 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 NWSL’s 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.
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