Women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis takes full-time leadership job at FIFA

Chief football officer guided U.S. to back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2019

Image | ellis-jill-191006-1180

Caption: Jill Ellis, former president of the NWSL San Diego Wave, will continue to work alongside Arsene Wenger, FIFA chief of global football development, in a partnership they started in 2021. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press/File)

Two-time Women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis took a full-time job with FIFA as its chief football officer on Tuesday.
Ellis will continue to work alongside Arsene Wenger, FIFA chief of global football development, in a partnership they started in 2021 when she led the governing body's technical advisory group for women's soccer.
Ellis led the United States to back-to-back world titles in 2015 and 2019. She and former Arsenal coach Wenger promoted FIFA president Gianni Infantino's campaign to double the number of World Cups by playing them every two years instead of four. That project was resisted by European and South American soccer officials and soon dropped.
"The creation of the chief football officer position underscores FIFA's commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and accessible global football community, ensuring that football remains a sport for all," the governing body said.
Ellis has been president of the San Diego Wave in the National Women's Soccer League and her departure was announced on Tuesday.
"Under Jill's leadership, the Wave set a standard of excellence as an expansion club in the NWSL," club owner Lauren Leichtman said in a statement.
WATCH | Ellis leads U.S. to 2019 Women's World Cup title:

Media Video | (not specified) : FIFA World Cup Wrap: USA successfully defend World Cup title

Caption: Megan Rapinoe scored the game-winner for the United States in the World Cup final to secure their fourth World Cup title in a 2-0 win over the Netherlands.

Open Full Embed in New Tab (external link)Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage.