A living legend.
That's what Michelle Akers is not only in the United States, but around the world, having won multiple World Cups, an Olympics, and being awarded the FIFA Female Player of the Century.
Portland Hearts of Pine announced that Akers will join the organization as a Founding Advisor for their women's team, which will play their inaugural USL W season next year against the likes of AC Connecticut, Hartford Athletic, Hudson Valley Crusaders, New England Mutiny, and Vermont Green FC in the Northeast Division.
Having already been in contact with the club's front office and attended a match last year, she's familiar with the club and what it's been able to do on the field, for its fans and for the community so far. She'll hope to take that and extend it even further, shaping the team's identity.
This isn't an unprecedented role in New England soccer. Sam Mewis, a US Soccer figurehead in her own right, having won the 2019 FIFA World Cup, shifted into an advisor role after stepping down as coach of Vermont Green's own women's team ahead of their inaugural USL W season.
Akers has spent her years post-retirement as a figurehead voice and leader, advocating for the women's game and soccer in general. Her most recent official role in the game was serving as an assistant and player development coach for Orlando Pride during the 2022 NWSL season.
Hearts of Pine will host their third annual Heartsapalooza on Thursday, September 10th, at Portland's Thompson's Point, where Akers will make her first public appearance as an official part of the club.
