Mark Parsons is heading to the Netherlands.
While there is no final signature yet, multiple sources have confirmed to The Athletic’s Meg Linehan that Mark Parsons will be leaving Portland to take over as head coach of the Netherlands’ women’s national team.
Current Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman is set to take over as England’s WNT coach in September after taking the job last August. Parsons was first linked to the job by RTV Utrecht.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Mark Parsons is heading to the Netherlands to take the head coaching job after the end of the 2021 #NWSL season with the Thorns (though no final signature just yet). First reported by RTV Utrecht.
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) May 12, 2021
At @TheAthletic: https://t.co/oi4EgUvzDB
Parsons is set to finish out the 2021 season with Portland before making his way overseas.
The Thorns are heading into the NWSL regular season having won the NWSL Challenge Cup championship on Saturday. Since taking over in 2016, Parsons has led the Thorns to an NWSL championship in two championship game appearances, an NWSL Shield, and four consecutive playoff appearances. Notably, Parsons signed a multi-year contract extension last March.
While Portland will have some competition looking for their next manager with Angel City starting play in 2022, it arguably becomes one of the biggest jobs in women’s soccer — one that comes with lofty expectations.
In the meantime, both Parsons and the Portland faithful will have their eyes on the 2021 title, with the Thorns entering the season as the clear championship favorites.