Overview
- Khaled El-Ahmad was announced Tuesday as Austin FC’s chief soccer officer and sporting director and will take charge of roster construction and sporting strategy.
- El-Ahmad replaces Rodolfo Borrell, who left the club in May, and arrives while Davy Arnaud serves as interim coach and Jim Curtin is set to become the permanent head coach after the season.
- He comes from Minnesota United, where he helped the club reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2024 and 2025, and has prior roles with Barnsley, City Football Group, New York City FC and Djurgården.
- Austin sits 14th in the Western Conference and risks missing the playoffs again, a shortfall that ownership and newly expanded executive Andy Loughnane say El-Ahmad’s appointment is meant to address.
- Expect immediate focus on short-term roster moves to salvage the 2026 campaign and longer-term work to stabilize a club that will be on its fourth head coach and third sporting director next season.