PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club has signed director of goalkeeping Nadine Angerer to a contract extension. The former German international and Thorns FC goalkeeper joined the club’s coaching staff ahead of the 2016 season, helping Portland win an NWSL Shield in 2016 and the NWSL Championship in 2017, while goalkeeper Adrianna Franch was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in consecutive seasons with Angerer at the helm.
“Since arriving in Portland, Nadine has proved to be a tremendous professional, and we are thrilled to make today’s announcement. From the beginning, she has shown a strong commitment to this club and community, utilizing her wealth of experience at the international and professional level to transition from a top player to now, one of the top goalkeeping coaches in the profession,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for Thorns FC. “She epitomizes the culture and philosophy of the club in her work and her actions. Her knowledge of the game, immense attention to detail and her constant focus have been critical to the growth and development of our players.”
Serving as the club’s goalkeeper coach since 2016, Angerer was part of the coaching staff that won an NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship. During that span, Portland earned three consecutive trips to the NWSL Playoffs, hosting home playoff matches in all three seasons and making back-to-back appearances in the NWSL Championship. With Angerer overseeing the goalkeepers, Franch was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in consecutive seasons (2017, 2018), posting the best save percentage (79.1) and the second-most shutouts (17) in the league during that span.
“This is an exciting and important announcement for our club,” said Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons. “Nadine is a world-class goalkeeping coach and her contributions extend beyond her work on the field with our goalkeepers. She is Thorns FC through and through, and embodies the culture of the club with her work ethic and commitment to helping everyone around her. She is a key person and leader for our staff and all of our players.”
“It was an easy decision,” said Angerer. “It’s an honor to work for the best and most professional women’s soccer club in the world. We have been on a great journey and I want to continue to help the club grow on this path into the future. Working with Mark and the rest of the staff has been amazing. I have a passion to develop goalkeepers, and here in Portland I have been given the opportunity and trust to succeed.”
Prior to joining the Thorns’ coaching staff, Angerer, 40, played two professional seasons with Thorns FC, appearing in 28 matches (all starts) during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The 2013 FIFA World Player of the Year, Angerer finished her international career with 146 caps for the Germany Women’s National Team and won two FIFA World Cups (2003, 2007).
