Portland Thorns Bring In Rob Gale As Assistant Coach
By Former Valour FC head coach Rob Gale is joining the Portland Thorns as an assistant coach for the 2023 NWSL season.
Gale had most recently worked with the New York City FC Academy as a youth coach. He had picked up that post last August before embarking on his new opportunity in the women’s game.
Gale had helmed Valour FC for the club’s first two-and-a-half seasons before being replaced by Phil Dos Santos. He left the Canadian Premier league side with an overall record of seventeen wins, eight draws, and thirty-one losses across all competitions, stating he didn’t get a lot of support from the club during his time there.
“Rob brings a wealth of knowledge from his time in the professional game as well as on the international stage and we are looking forward to having him join the group,” said Thorns gaffer Mike Norris. “His experience as a head coach will be a valuable addition to our staff as we look ahead to the 2023 season.”
The former Valour FC head coach had also once coached Canada at the youth level, assisting the Canada U-17 men’s team in 2010 and helping the squad to two successive FIFA U-17 World Cup appearances. He also worked with the U-16, U-18, and U-20 teams at various points, and had worked as the technical director of the Manitoba Soccer Association.
He had also worked with the Canadian women’s national team in 2021.
“Rob’s dedication and energy for developing people and winning will be a key asset as we look to continue the recent successes of this team,” added Norris.
“I am delighted to be here in Portland. I couldn’t turn down the chance to work with Mike [Norris] and this talented squad,” said Gale. “The opportunity to work with the group and help develop them further in their quest to make history and defend the championship is one I am relishing, and I very much look forward to living in this great soccer city.”
Gale arrives to the assistant coach position alongside Katie Quinlan, who once worked with the Blackburn Rovers.