Mark Parsons
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Mark Richard David Parsons (born 8 August 1986) is an English football manager who is currently the head coach of American club Washington Spirit.[4] He had previously managed the Netherlands women's national team and the Portland Thorns FC.[5]
| Parsons coaching the Portland Thorns FC in October 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Richard David Parsons[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 August 1986[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Cranleigh, England[3] | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Washington Spirit (head coach) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2004–2010 | Chelsea Women Reserves | ||
| 2012 | D.C. United Women U-20 | ||
| 2013 | Washington Spirit Reserves | ||
| 2013–2015 | Washington Spirit | ||
| 2016–2021 | Portland Thorns | ||
| 2021–2022 | Netherlands women | ||
| 2023– | Washington Spirit | ||
Parsons holds USSF and UEFA A & B Licenses, a USSF Pro License, a USSF National Youth License and a NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma.[6]
Managerial career
Chelsea Reserves
Parsons spent six years in multiple coaching roles in England, including time spent as the head coach of Chelsea Reserves[7][8] which he led to an unprecedented treble in his first season.[9]
DC United Women Under-20s
In 2012, Parsons led the D.C. United Women Under-20s to the 2012 Super-20 League final, which they lost to Colorado Rapids Women.[10]
Washington Spirit Reserves
Parsons was signed by Washington Spirit on 16 March 2013 to manage their reserve team for the 2013 W-League season.[10]
Washington Spirit
Following the dismissal of Washington Spirit manager Mike Jorden in July 2013, Parsons was promoted to be the first team manager.[11][12] The team was at the bottom of the table halfway through the 2013 season when Parsons took over, but he led them to their first two home wins in 2013 and into the playoffs in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Parsons stepped down from his position as head coach and GM of the Washington Spirit on 30 September 2015.[13]
Portland Thorns
On 5 October 2015, Parsons accepted the position as head coach of Portland Thorns FC.[14]
He led a new-look team through a 12-game undefeated streak from the beginning of the 2016 season, finishing as the regular season champions and winning the NWSL Shield but falling to the Western New York Flash in the Thorns' first-ever home playoff match on 2 October 2016.[15]
The Thorns repeated in securing a home playoff match in the 2017 season, in spite of suffering numerous injuries to the first xi throughout the season including the long term absence of Tobin Heath. After beating the Orlando Pride 4–1 in the semi finals, the Thorns won the NWSL championship by defeating the North Carolina Courage 1–0 in the final.
In March 2020 Mark Parsons signed a new lucrative, multi-year contract[16] with Portland.
Netherlands
On 20 May 2021, the KNVB announced that Parsons would succeed Sarina Wiegman as head coach of the Netherlands women's national football team after the conclusion of the 2020 Summer Olympics; he continued to coach the Portland Thorns until November 2021, when the position was taken over by Rhian Wilkinson.[5]
On 10 August 2022, Parsons' contract with KNVB was terminated by mutual consent, after the Netherlands team failed in the defence of their 2017 title in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 competition.[17]
Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| Washington Spirit Reserves | 2013 | 2013 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 4 | − | − | — | 60.00 |
| Washington Spirit[18] | July 2013 | December 2015 | 57 | 20 | 13 | 24 | − | − | — | 35.09 |
| Portland Thorns FC | April 2016 | November 2021 | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | − | − | — | 58.70 |
| Netherlands | September 2021 | August 2022 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 51 | 18 | +33 | 55.56 |
| Career Total | — | − | − | − | − | − | — | — | ||
Personal life
Parsons is British and also holds US citizenship.[12]
Honours
Portland Thorns FC
- NWSL Championship: 2017
- NWSL Shield: 2016, 2021[19]
- NWSL Challenge Cup: 2021
- NWSL Community Shield: 2020
- WICC Championship: 2021
Individual
References
- ^ . UEFA. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "Mark Parsons". Royal Dutch Football Association. from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Danzer, Paul (27 December 2016). "Suited for soccer success". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ Pittman, Sam (21 November 2022). "Washington Spirit Names Mark Parsons New Head Coach » Washington Spirit".
- ^ a b "MARK PARSONS NIEUWE BONDSCOACH ORANJELEEUWINNEN". KNVB. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "2021 Portland Thorns Media Guide". Portland, Oregon: Portland Thorns, FC. 2021. p. 6. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ Mark Parsons: The manager who went from Chelsea Reserves to Coach of the Year in America englishplayersabroad.com
- ^ . baltimoresoccernews.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ "Thorns FC name Mark Parsons as head coach for 2016 season". Thorns FC. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Mark Parsons named Washington Spirit Reserves head coach". soccerwire.com. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ . washingtonspirit.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ a b "Game Notes: Portland Thorns FC vs. Chicago Red Stars: June 22, 2016 by Portland Thorns FC – issuu". Portland Thorns FC. 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Mark Parsons steps down". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ "Mark Parsons joins Thorns". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ Goldberg, Jamie (2 October 2016). "Portland Thorns eliminated from NWSL playoffs after 4–3 extra time loss to Western New York Flash". The Oregonian. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Diamond, Drew (6 March 2020). "Mark Parsons commits future to Portland Thorns". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Netherlands, Mark Parsons part ways after 'disappointing' Euro 2022 campaign". espn.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Spirit Announce Head Coach and General Manager Mark Parsons Will Not Return in 2016". 30 September 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ a b . National Women's Soccer League. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 4 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
External links
- Mark Parsons at Soccerway