Yael Averbuch West has officially been named the general manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC, the club announced Tuesday. The news comes after Averbuch West was named to the position in the interim following the firing of Alyse LaHue in early July.
The team has also named Stephanie Lee as assistant general manager.
“Yael and Stephanie have done so much for our club in such a short period of time,” said Gotham FC Chair Tammy Murphy in a release. “They were instrumental in leading us to one of our most successful seasons in club history, and ownership is confident they will build on that success in 2022. The future is bright for Gotham FC, and I hope our fans are very excited about what we’re building here.”
In her time as interim GM, Averbuch West has hired Scott Parkinson to lead the team following Freya Coombe’s departure to Angel City FC. Additionally, the 2021 season saw the club amass an 8-11-5 record and reach the quarterfinals of the NWSL playoffs.
A former member of the USWNT, Averbuch West is the first former women’s national team player to be named general manager of an NWSL club. Currently, she sits on the NWSL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement committee.
“This is the right move for Gotham FC and the NWSL,” said Gotham FC Vice Chair Ed Nalbandian. “Yael has not only established herself as a leader for Gotham FC, but also as a leading voice in the league’s CBA negotiations. And Stephanie has done a tremendous job supporting the soccer and business side of the club, including updating our policies and procedures to be aligned with best practices. It’s been a pleasure to work with Yael and Stephanie the past several months, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue to work with them as we look to take the club to another level.”
“This organization has made dramatic improvements on and off the field in a few short years,” said Averbuch West. “I’m honored that ownership has given me the opportunity to continue the transformation of my hometown club into the preeminent destination for players, executives, coaches, and staff.”