REPORTS: Jill Ellis featured among D.C. United head coach candidates

Former U.S. Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis is among the candidates being considered for D.C. United’s head coaching position, according to multiple reports.

The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer first broke the news on Monday, announcing that Ellis’ name is featured on D.C. United’s candidate list alongside former Real Salt Lake and New York City FC manager Jason Kreis, and former Schalke 04 manager David Wagner.

Ellis, a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, would be the first female head coach in the history of Major League Soccer. However, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle reported that D.C. United remains in the “early stages” of its hiring process.

United announced that Ben Olsen was departing as head coach last week, ending his tenure in the position which he had held since 2010. Assistant coach Chad Ashton has been appointed to serve as interim head coach for the club.

Ellis retired from her role with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2019 after winning her second World Cup title. Between 2014 and 2019, Ellis compiled a record of 106-7-19. The 54-year-old has extensive ties to the D.C. area, having relocated from England to Northern Virginia as a child, where she began her soccer career.