Ella Masar will coach team in finale.
CHICAGO, IL–According to a report in Equalizer Soccer, Chris Petrucelli will not return as head coach of the Chicago Red Stars in 2024. Petrucelli came in as head coach at the start of the 2022 season and led the team to a playoff appearance on the last day of the season. However in 2023, anything that could have gone wrong for the Red Stars did from the fallout of both the Yates Report and the Joint Investigation from the NWSL and NWSLPA which led to the players calling for Arnim Whisler to sell the squad, to the departure of several veterans prior to the start of the 2023 season, to the season ending injury to Mallory Swanson.
The Red Stars are currently bottom at 7-11-3 and eliminated from playoff contention. Their NWSL Challenge Cup campaign did not see a goal until the last match of group play when they were well out of it–finishing 1-4-1. Petrucelli finishes with a record of 19-25-12 record in all competitions.
“We appreciate Chris’s service as coach, especially during this ownership transition, and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” Chicago Red Stars Executive Chairperson Laura Ricketts said.
This is expected to be the first of many changes the Ricketts group will make after purchasing the club in September. There are many upgrades that are needed both on and off the pitch for the Red Stars to return to respectability and return to being title contenders.
Ella Masar will coach the team in the Red Stars’ season finale against OL Reign on Sunday (4pm CT, Paramount+)
