Usseglio: Summer of the Swans
Excitement builds ahead of inaugural season
It has been a busy summer for Boston Legacy FC. There have been major developments in the hiring of the front office and coaching staff, as well as the signing of players.
The hiring of Domènec Guasch as General Manager seems like a great move. Guasch’s experience working in multiple roles for FC Barcelona, both with the academy and professional team, is exciting. Hopefully, he will be able to take the best parts of the Barça culture and bring that to Boston. I think his hiring gives us an insight into how Boston Legacy wants to build the club, following one of the best models for club soccer in the world.
Potentially even more exciting was the hiring of the club’s first head coach, Filipa Patão. Her hiring is another statement of intent from Boston Legacy FC. The Portuguese coach has a track record of success at Benfica, both domestically and in the Champions League.
Patão is a top-level coach and one who has been at Benfica for a long time. The club was clearly not only looking for the best possible coach, but someone who would bring stability.
For a new team in their first season, I think the approach Boston Legacy took makes a lot of sense. It is exciting to think about the future, with Guasch and Patão having an opportunity to build the kind of environment that can lead to results on the field for years to come.
Based on the players the Legacy have signed so far, you can start to see the model of the club. One that seems very similar to that of Barcelona and Benfica: a club that develops players.
I do think it is noteworthy that the Swans’ first signing was not a superstar player from the USWNT or abroad. They clearly have an approach in their selection of players that will fit into the team’s system.
Boston Legacy FC has also been incredibly active in the community, representing at local youth events, pro sports games, heck even having a duck boat with their logo on it. It is great to see the club starting to become part of the fabric of the community.
Speaking of logo, what does everyone think about the club’s crest? While I am certainly biased, I do not think it is a stretch to say that the crest is the best in the NWSL.
The Swan is perfect. The detail of the eight wings to represent the original NWSL clubs, including the Boston Breakers, as well as paying homage to the Zakim Bridge, is phenomenal.
The logo may only say Boston on it, but the Swan is the legacy. The swans in the Boston Public Garden are an iconic feature of Boston. Every year, you know when summer is officially here once you start seeing the Swan Boats.
The Boston Public Garden is part of the Emerald Necklace, a series of parks that connect the city together. I am not sure if that had any influence on the selection of the team colors, which I think are wonderfully unique to the league, but if so, well done. The fact that the team will eventually call White Stadium home, located in Franklin Park, ties the team to that Emerald Necklace.
While it is disappointing that issues with White Stadium have caused the team to use Gillette Stadium as its primary home field for the 2026 season, I hope the change of venue will not halt the momentum of the club too much.
Despite that setback, the future is looking bright for the Boston Legacy. From the hiring of the general manager and head coach, to the roster building and involvement in the community, the news about the new training ground in Brockton, and the recent announcements of Aliyah Boston joining as an investor and the creation of the athlete advisory board.
What a summer it has been. It will not be too long before we can start cheering on the Swans and fight for trophies in the NWSL.