England legend brings a wealth of professional experience and joins
following a successful tenure as Director of Women’s Football at
English side Aston Villa FC
Professional women’s soccer club,
Angel City Football Club, today announces the appointment of former England, Chelsea FC and Juventus international, Eniola Aluko, as the club’s first-ever Sporting Director.
Aluko will play an integral role in the continued development of Angel
City FC with a focus on setting the course for the club’s culture,
gameplay philosophy and principles ahead of the team taking the pitch in
the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2022.
As Sporting
Director, Aluko will lead roster management, the club’s recruitment
strategy, oversee player and technical staff development, and act as the NWSL liaison in regards to compliance and administration.
Prior to her successful tenure as Director of Women’s Football at Aston Villa FC, where she oversaw the club’s first season in England’s
top-flight competition, Aluko qualified as a lawyer and, since retirement in 2020, has made regular television appearances as a highly-regarded soccer expert.
One of England’s greatest ever players, Aluko won 102 international
caps, played at three FIFA Women’s World Cups, two UEFA Women’s Euro
competitions and represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Summer
Olympics.
Her impressive club career also saw her play for Europe’s
top sides including Chelsea FC and Italy’s Juventus and Women’s
Professional League clubs in the US with St. Louis Athletica, Atlanta
Beat and Sky Blue FC.
Newly appointed Angel City Football Club Sporting Director and former
England international, Eniola Aluko, said:
“This is an incredible opportunity to help write Angel City’s first
chapter and to build a team that is people-focused and admired by
players and fans all over the world. I have no doubt the club will be a
trailblazer, not just in the NWSL and women’s soccer, but for sports
clubs globally. As a former player, the club’s determination to make
an impact both on the field and in the community is something that I
fully support, and I can’t wait to get started. I am thrilled to join
a fantastic female led ownership group, many of whom I have admired and been inspired by from a young age.”
“Appointing Eniola Aluko, a world-renowned international soccer player
with extensive experience in technical positions, is a landmark moment for us,” said Julie Uhrman, Founder and President, Angel City FC.
“She personifies the values of our club, and shares our passion to
challenge the status quo, push boundaries and try new things. We have been a fan of Eni’s for many years now and to be able to see her bring her winning spirit, dedication and experience to ACFC is as real as it gets. This is a huge milestone in our journey, and we could not be more excited to welcome her to the team.”
