8 Pro Players Inspiring Post-Soccer Careers
There have been a lot of women’s soccer players who have gone on to do big things after their playing careers have come to an end. Whether that be continuing to stay around the game of soccer or down another path, we look at some former players’ post-soccer careers.
Whitney Engen
Engen bounced around after her first year with the Chicago Red Stars in the WPS and had stints in Sweden and England before returning to the U.S. for the NWSL.
She played for the Houston Dash and Western New York before spending her final season with the Boston Breakers. The defender was also on the USWNT 2011-16 and was a part of the 2015 World Cup-winning team.
After stepping away from the game in 2016, Engen went to law school at Wake Forest, where she graduated in 2020. After passing the bar exam, she was sworn in as an attorney and currently practices corporate law. It’s inspiring to see how a pro-soccer player can switch careers!
Becca Moros
After a great career at Duke, Moros was drafted by the Washington Freedom for the inaugural season of the WPS. After the league folded, she spent time in Japan. After two years in Japan, the defender joined the NWSL, where she spent six years playing. She finished her playing career with the Utah Royals.
In March of 2020, Moros was hired by Gotham FC as an assistant coach, where she would spend a little over a year on the coaching staff. A little over a year later, Moros was named the head coach of the University of Arizona.
Although she’s still involved in the soccer world, it’s great to see how her passion for the game never wavered, and she followed the post-soccer career path to become a coach.
Keelin Patillo (formerly Winters)
Patillo graduated from the University of Portland before having a 10-year professional career. She spent four years in the NWSL as the captain of the Seattle Reign before retiring from the sport at the end of the 2016 season. She joined the fire academy after and is currently still a firefighter with the Kirkland (Wash.) Fire Department.
Patillo isn’t the only former player who has found a firefighting career. Christine Nairn announced her retirement from soccer in September of 2021 and joined the Houston Fire Department Academy not long after wrapping up her playing career.
Sydney Miramontez
After a successful career at Nebraska, Miramontez signed with FC Kansas City in 2017. After KC was sold, the defender joined the Utah Royals and moved to Utah. Ahead of the 2020 season, Miramontez announced her retirement, but she soon came out of retirement and signed with the Kansas City Current at the end of 2020.
After a 2021 season that highlighted more than ever the issues in the NWSL, Miramontez has retired to take a full-time job with the NWSL Players Association. She took the job as a business agent and will bring a player’s perspective to the table. With players trying to get more say within the league, Miramontez joining the NWSLPA is a big step.
Yael Averbuch West
Averbuch West had a decorated playing career, a professional career that started in New Jersey with Sky Blue FC. She has returned to the same club this time as the General Manager. She’s the first USWNT player to be the GM of an NWSL club!
During her playing career, Averbuch West was a big part of getting the NWSLPA created and serving as the president before transitioning to the Executive Director position.
Julie Foudy
Foudy has done quite a bit since she’s stepped away from the playing field. Her time with the USWNT saw her help the national team win two World Cups, two Gold Medals, and a Silver Medal. She finished her national team career with 274 caps and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007.
She is currently a jack of all trades for ESPN serving as an analyst, reporter, and the host of Laughter Permitted, a podcast for ESPN!
Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke
Van Hollebeke was a defender for the USWNT from 2008-15 and was part of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Gold Medal-winning teams.
The former defender retired from the game in 2015 and attended UC San Diego School of Medicine for medical school. After graduating from medical school, she is currently working on her residency in Family Medicine.
Michelle Akers
Michelle Akers is one of the best soccer players of all time after one of the best careers with the USWNT. From 1995-2000 she helped the USWNT win two World Cups and tallied 105 goals.
After hanging up her boots, Akers started a horse rescue. Michelle Aker’s Horse Rescue and Outreach was created in 2007, and its mission is to save and create a suitable environment for previously abused and neglected horses. These former soccer players all took different paths into their post-soccer careers.
Featured image via Getty Images
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
