- Former Canada WNT international will join NWSL team as General Manager
- Follows three years as Head of Women’s Football at the Confederation for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean
Concacaf’s Head of Women’s Football, Karina LeBlanc, is to depart the organization after three years of successfully driving forward the Confederation’s “Concacaf W” women’s football strategy.
LeBlanc, who had a hugely successful playing career earning over 100 caps for the Canada WNT, including winning Olympic bronze and competing in five FIFA Women’s World Cups, leaves the Confederation to take up the position of General Manager at NWSL’s Portland Thorns. LeBlanc played for the Thorns in 2013.
During her tenure at Concacaf, LeBlanc successfully played a key role in the launch of the Concacaf W strategy alongside the organization’s President, Victor Montagliani, in Paris in 2019. She subsequently led the delivery of several positive developments to turn that strategy into reality and truly benefit the women’s game in the region. During LeBlanc’s time at Concacaf the provision and quality of female specific coaching courses increased significantly, an entirely new women’s national team competitions ecosystem was developed and the Confederation launched its “We Belong” campaign to celebrate women and girls in football and make clear that the sport is for everyone.
“Karina has done an excellent job to take women’s football to the next level at Concacaf and we will be very sorry to see her depart”, said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President, Victor Montagliani. “However, I have been fortunate enough to know her for many years through my time at Canada Soccer and it was clear then that she would have a major impact on the game both on and off the pitch. I am happy for her personally that she has the opportunity to take on this fantastic role at a club that is close to her heart. I also know that her passion for growing women and girls football is long held and that she will no doubt continue supporting and driving that, both locally in Portland and across the region, as she takes this next step in her career. On behalf of everyone at Concacaf, I want to thank Karina for all her hard work and for the hugely positive impact she has had on our Confederation. I wish her all the very best for the future”, added Montagliani.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the past three years at Concacaf and the opportunity to develop women and girls football in this wonderful region”, said outgoing Concacaf Head of Women’s Football, Karina LeBlanc. “Concacaf is truly like a family and it has been an absolute privilege to work together with dedicated colleagues and Member Associations to grow the women’s game, and to show women and girls that football is for them and that “they belong”. As I look forward to this exciting next chapter in my career at the Portland Thorns, I have to mention and thank Concacaf President Victor Montagliani and General Secretary Philippe Moggio for the enthusiasm they have for developing women’s football, and for the faith they showed in me during my time at the Confederation. I had previous experience of Victor’s strong commitment to the women’s game in Canada over many years and quickly saw the same commitment at Concacaf, only now extended to all 41 of the Confederation’s Member Associations. I know that under the current Concacaf leadership women’s football will continue to be a major priority. I will always be an advocate for and supporter of their important work across the region”, added LeBlanc.
