NWSL expansion side Boston Legacy name Benfica’s Filipa Patao as club’s first head coach ahead of 2026 season

Boston Legacy FC finally has a head coach. The expansion side, set to join the NWSL in 2026 as the 15th franchise of the competition, is led by Filipa Patao, awaiting approval of her visa. The new manager is expected to become a member of the club in July and go to work to build the future selection.

Patao joins Boston Legacy of the Portuguese club Benfica. During her time as head coach of the Senior Team of Ladies since 2020, she gathered a 156W-28L-15D record. The manager has a UEFA a coaching license and is busy obtaining a UEFA Pro diploma.

“I am very enthusiastic to go to Boston. I can’t wait to go to the city, meet all people and start working,” said Patao in a club release.

“The American League is extremely competitive, and that is one of the reasons why I accepted this project. I love competition, difficulties and the players to strive for more and better. To transform themselves and always demand more of themselves. I know that fans of Boston are passionate about the city and I am looking forward to it.”

The coaching career of Patao started in 2007 with Benfica as a youth coach with Stints next to the U-5, U-17 and U-19-Squadrons. Benfica has collected many titles at the helm of the senior team, including five consecutive Campeonato Nacional titles.

She and the club sought more during the UEFA Women’s Champions League when the team reached the quarterfinals from 2023-24, and Benfica was the first Portuguese club to reach the knockout phase in the tournament. Her efforts with the club earned her a nomination in the First Women’s Coach of the Year Award from the Ballon d’Or.

“Filipa demonstrates all the qualities that this club personifies and the way we want to play, with passion, grit and style,” said Legacy FC -controlling owner Jennifer Epstein. “She is a coach who likes to develop and win players, and that attitude is very clear in the way she is approaching our inaugural 2026 season frontally. We can’t wait to see her Boston’s next champion team build her.”

Boston received an expansion side Back in September 2023Marking the return of professional football from women to the New England area. The ownership group has so far the longest structure of an inaugural season, and while there were some bumps along the way A failed marketing campaign Around the provisional name, A stadium setbackand one Turn on their first name – The club has been active in listening to local and future supporters with regard to His new name And random.

The club has accepted Domè Guasch In 2024, and now that he and Patao are connected, the next steps for the expansion side to sign his first player.

“Boston is a club where we both want to develop technical identity and have a clear playing style, but we also want a coach who thinks about it than just winning games,” Guasch said. “Filipa is a coach whom I believe it can help us build a great culture where players understand that they will come here to grow and learn.”