Washington Spirit hires Larry Best as CEO​

Washington Spirit  |   January 4, 2019
Washington Spirit hires Larry Best as CEO​ Featured Image

Boyds, Md. (January 4, 2018) – The Washington Spirit announce the hiring of Larry Best as the club’s first Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Best is responsible for all club strategy and operations, including the hiring and management of technical staff.

Spirit owner Bill Lynch said: “Larry brings to our club an unmatched skill set and visionary thought leadership from his decades of soccer and business experience. He has served our game as a player, business executive, technical director and coach. He has developed relationships that span over 35 years both on and off the field with the greats of our game including Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy, Jill Ellis, Shannon Cirovski, Cindy Parlow Cone, April Heinrichs, Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Dave Sarachan, and many others. Larry’s mission is to design, architect, and transform our club into the best female professional soccer club of the world.”

Best said on joining the Spirit: “I would like to thank Bill for providing me the opportunity to join the Spirit team as the CEO. I’m very excited to step into this role and I’m looking forward to working with and being surrounded by very supportive ownership, professional business and technical staff while being connected to world class athletes that represent the greatest game on the planet. We are already conducting a review of all of our soccer operations and business operations and will rapidly make changes to significantly improve the player and fan experience, and community involvement. These changes will be made public in the coming days and weeks. Our club has some of the best and most dynamic players in the world and I will work tirelessly to bring championships to Spirit Nation.”

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT LARRY BEST

April Heinrichs – former Technical Director at U.S. Soccer: “I applaud the Spirit for selecting Larry to lead the club. I’ve known Larry for nearly 30 years and he has an uncompromising standard of excellence that will serve the Spirit well on and off the field. Larry has great guiding principles for the quality and style of play he expects from those under his leadership. Those same principles will also guide his business expectations. The Spirit are in great hands with Larry Best.”

Anson Dorrance – Head Coach, University of North Carolina: “From the start of our program at the University of North Carolina, I have known Larry both as a soccer business professional and technical director/coach. I know Larry will lead the Spirit to new heights and could not have more respect for his talents and integrity.”

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