Kansas City Current Announce Coaching and Technical Staff Additions

KANSAS CITY (Feb. 7, 2022) — Ella Masar, a former NWSL and accomplished international player, and Ben Donachie, former director of performance for Chicago Fire FC will join the assistant coaching staff for the 2022 season.  In addition, Lucas Rodriguez returns for his second year as an assistant coach with the team. 

Masar, Donachie and Rodriguez join Lloyd Yaxley, announced earlier this month as the goalkeeping coach for the team. 

“Ownership has a clear vision and ambition for the team both on and off the field,” said head coach Matt Potter. “The appointments they have made for the technical staff reflects their commitment to the players and fans in assembling the brightest, most talented individuals in their given areas of expertise. The team behind the team is incredible. I’m sure each of us look forward to playing our part to help the organization grow, compete and win. I look forward to working together, building an environment the players can thrive in and ultimately producing performances that moves us closer to realizing the club’s ambition in a manner the fans can enjoy. It’s certainly an exciting time to be a Kansas City Current fan!”

Masar’s career includes stints with Paris Saint-Germain (France), FC Rosengard (Sweden) and VfL Wolfsburg (Germany), where she played in the UEFA Champions League final in 2018. Domestically, she spent time withthe Chicago Red Stars in 2014 and captained the Houston Dash in 2015. She holds UEFA A and B Coaching Licenses.

"When I retired, after playing for some of the best clubs in the world, I made a promise to myself,” said Masar. “I promised that when the right opportunity came, I would do my best to take all my experience and try to help the next generation. I am extremely honored to start this next chapter with KC Current. This is a management team who has shown, with continuous action, where the bar should be set for women’s soccer. It is a dream to be able to work with Matt and the rest of this staff.”

Rodriguez, a native of Argentina, moved to the United States as a teenager and played soccer at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Johnson County Community College and MidAmerica Nazarene University, where he earned a degree in Sports Management. He played professionally for five seasons with Minnesota United FC and Jacksonville Armada FC, and then spent nine years playing for the Kansas City Comets. In 2011, Rodriguez was awarded Rookie of the Year with the KC Comets. Rodriguez holds a USSF A License. 

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with this great organization,” Rodriguez said. “It is a privilege for me to work with this amazing group of people and players that make me better every day.” 

Donachie brings ten years of coaching experience from the English Premier League and American Major League Soccer. He spent seven years at AFC Bournemouth in England, seeing the club through five seasons in the Premier League. For the past two years he’s been the Director of Performance at Chicago Fire FC. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Bournemouth University, and his Master’s of Science in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Glasgow. 

“I am extremely excited to join the Kansas City Current,” Donachie said. “This team is world class, from the players to the coaching staff, front office and ownership. It’s clear that everyone here is going above and beyond to build the best women’s soccer team in the world. I can’t wait to get started. Let’s go Current!” 

About the Kansas City Current

Founded in December 2020, the Kansas City Current is led by the ownership group of Angie Long, Chris Long and Brittany Matthews. The team competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and begins its second season with the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup kicking off at Racing Louisville on March 18. The Kansas City Current announced plans for the first stadium purpose-built for an NWSL team with expected completion in 2024. The team will play in 2022 at Children’s Mercy Park. For more information, visit KansasCityCurrent.com.