Washington Spirit Suffer Major Loss as General Manager Makes a Shocking Decision

A season that started with revenge on Orlando Pride at the NWSL Challenge Cup and a regular season 2-1 win over the Houston Dash, seems to have taken a U-turn for the Washington Spirit. Matchday 2 saw them suffer a shocking 0-2 defeat at home at the hands of KC Current. As if that loss wasn’t enough, the NWSL side has now endured another setback, this time losing their general manager, forcing them to make a crucial decision.

ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf took to X on March 24 to break the news that Mark Krikorian, the Washington Spirit’s President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, is stepping down. This decision comes after his three-year contract has come to an end. As clarified by Kassouf, the deal had already expired back in February. However, club owner Michele Kang requested him to remain for the start of the NWSL season, his decision appears to be final as Krikorian has already cleared his office.

Krikorian’s firm intent to depart from the Washington, D.C.-based club, forced Kang to take desperate calls. She has asked the club’s assistant general manager Nathan Minion and the sporting director James Hocken to look after operations on an interim basis. 

“When I came here in the spring of 2022, I wanted to help establish the Spirit as a perennial contender in the NWSL and one of the best clubs in the world,” Krikorian said, as compiled by Field Level Media. “I felt that over the past three years we built a foundation that can last while assembling a roster that can immediately compete for championships.”

The source further stated that Krikorian had already informed Michael Kang over the winter that he made a “difficult decision” to step down from his role. Either way, this comes down to be quite a huge blow for the Spirit, especially considering what he did for the club.

Washington Spirit has a big void to fill

The club thanked Mark Krikorian on their social media platform X, with a message about his achievements. Besides it, was also written a caption saying, “Thank you, Mark.” As the Spirit described it, Krikorian’s “Impact on the club cannot be overstated.” Set to turn 65 this week, his leadership helped him to etch a transformative impact on the team.

During his tenure, the Spirit achieved historic milestones. It includes a franchise-record 19 wins and a runner-up finish in 2024. Not to mention numerous individual and team accolades that came along with it. Moreover, he was responsible for bringing head coach Jonatan Giráldez who has brought his unique perspective to the NWSL.

In fact, “His influence has been felt not only within the Washington Spirit but across the world of women’s soccer.” That’s because before arriving at Audi Field, Krikorian spent over three decades shaping the sport across the collegiate, international, and professional levels. As the head coach at Florida State, he guided the Seminoles to NCAA championships in 2014, 2018, and 2021.

This also saw him earn National Coach of the Year honors three times while being named ACC Coach of the Year five times. Additionally, his legacy extends from amateur and collegiate soccer to the professional and international stage. In short, he has left an enduring mark at every level. Be that as it may, it remains to be seen how Washington Spirit fills this void.