Atlanta City Hires Richard Gunney as Chief Soccer Officer

Atlanta City FC has named Richard Gunney as its first Chief Soccer Officer, placing him in charge of establishing the club’s soccer philosophy and building its sporting operations ahead of its inaugural NWSL season in 2028.

Gunney will report directly to Mauricio Culebro, President of Soccer for AMB Sports and Entertainment, and officially begins his role on November 1. He will oversee the club’s recruitment, roster planning, player development, and day-to-day soccer operations, while developing short to long term strategies for building a competitive team.

San Diego Wave

Gunney joined San Diego in November 2021 as an assistant coach under Casey Stoney, just months before the Wave’s inaugural season.

In a March 2022 interview with Her Football Hub, Gunney discussed the challenge of creating an entirely new team. The club had to assumble its squad in a matter of months.

Gunney explained that the coaching staff developed specific profiles for players they wanted to recruit. They evaluated college prospects and spoke with players and their coaches to determine whether they would fit the club. He emphasized finding the right people and creating an environment where they could continue developing.

San Diego finished third in the 2022 regular-season standings and reached the NWSL semifinals in its inaugural season.

Gotham FC

Gunney joined Gotham FC in November 2022, becoming the club’s first director of scouting and roster development. Working alongside Yael Averbuch West, Gotham’s general manager and head of soccer operations, Gunney helped establish a recruitment operation combining live scouting, video evaluation, data analysis, and international player identification.

Gotham won the NWSL Championship in 2023 and 2025, along with the inaugural CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup in 2025. During Gunney’s tenure, the club recruited players including Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Ester González, and Guro Reiten. Gotham also invested in younger players, including Lilly Reale and Jordynn Dudley.

In a March 2026 article in The Athletic, Gunney’s recruitment work was highlighted through a scouting trip to California. While Gotham celebrated its 2025 championship in New York, Gunney remained in California to watch Stanford’s Jasmine Aikey, a potential alternative to Dudley. Aikey eventually joined Denver Summit, but Gunney also identified Stanford forward Andrea Kitahata, whom Gotham signed in January.

Gunney also emphasized the importance of financial discipline and consistency in recruitment. With the NWSL’s salary cap limiting spending, he advocated a coordinated approach to recruitment and roster management rather than making expensive acquisitions in response to short-term results.

Coaching and Player Development

Gunney spent five seasons as an assistant coach under Mark Parsons with Portland Thorns from 2017 through 2021. During that period, Portland won the 2017 NWSL Championship, reached the 2018 final, and captured the 2021 NWSL Shield and Challenge Cup.

In a 2018 interview with SheKicks, Gunney discussed working with French international Amandine Henry. He highlighted her intelligence, technical ability, creativity, and competitiveness, along with her tactical understanding of the game.

Before his NWSL career, Gunney worked as technical director of Fulham FC’s Girls Centre of Excellence, overseeing youth development and helping establish pathways for young players.

He also served as head coach of the Welsh men’s futsal national team while the country was developing its futsal program. In a 2013 interview with UEFA, Gunney discussed the challenges of developing the sport in Wales, including limited opportunities for players and domestic competition. His work included supporting grassroots participation and improving domestic structures.

What’s Next for Atlanta City?

In his March 2026 interview with The Athletic, Gunney outlined a progression for developing clubs: target the playoffs in the first season, build on that foundation in the second, and work toward competing for the NWSL Shield in the third.

Gunney has reached the NWSL postseason in each of his ten seasons in the league, working in both coaching and recruitment roles. His appointment suggests Atlanta City wants to establish a competitive team in year one.