Khaled El-Ahmad named Austin FC Sporting Director

Austin FC appointed Khaled El-Ahmad as chief soccer officer and sporting director to oversee roster construction, scouting, development, and the club’s entire player pathway from academy to first team, with plans to align coaching, recruitment, and performance under a unified vision. El-Ahmad, who previously led Minnesota United’s soccer operations and has long ties to City Football Group and Barnsley, arrives amid Austin’s ongoing rebuild and a season-marked by playoff absence. He will report to CEO Andy Loughnane, and his hiring coinc follows the club’s dismissal of Rodolfo Borrell and the early introduction of Jim Curtin as next head coach, signaling a broader reorganization of soccer leadership. Club chairman Anthony Precourt praised El-Ahmad’s global MLS experience, talent identification, and data-informed leadership as essential to building a sustainable, long-term winner for a market that has shown strong fan support but mixed on-field results. The move represents a broader strategic push for Austin FC to become a marquee MLS club, balancing rapid roster moves with a long-range development pathway and organizational identity. El-Ahmad emphasized creating an environment where coaching, recruitment, and player development are fully aligned to sustain success beyond the current season.