Thorns head coach Mark Parsons to leave after 2021 NWSL season

The Athletic’s Meg Linehan on Wednesday reported that Portland Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons will leave the Thorns after the 2021 season to take over as head coach of the Netherlands women’s national team.

Linehan noted that nothing has officially been signed, but that players were told on Wednesday morning of the news. The news was originally reported out of the Netherlands by RTV Utrecht.

Parsons signed a multi-year contract extension with the Thorns back in March of 2020. He has led the Thorns to one NWSL championship, an NWSL shield, four consecutive playoff appearances and two berths in the NWSL championship game. Most recently, Parsons and company defeated NJ/NY Gotham FC 6-5 in penalty kicks to win the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup.

We will keep you updated as more information comes out. For now, if you want to read what Linehan reported, click here. For Stumptown Footy’s article on the original report, click here.