Former FA chief Mark Cartwright becomes first ever sporting director of the United Soccer League

Former FA chief and FIFA consultant Mark Cartwright becomes first ever sporting director of the United Soccer League to help oversee player development in North America

  • Mark Cartwright was also Stoke City’s technical director between 2012 and 2019 
  • Former Brighton and Shrewsbury goalkeeper has also worked with FA and FIFA
  • The 48-year-old will now try and spearhead development of the game in the USA 


Former FA and Stoke chief and FIFA consultant Mark Cartwright has been appointed as the United Soccer League’s first ever sporting director.

Cartwright will be tasked with overseeing player development, coaching and educating clubs across the USL’s professional leagues, which operate under North America’s top tier MLS.

Former Brighton, Shrewsbury and Wrexham goalkeeper Cartwright was Stoke’s technical director between 2012 and 2019.

Mark Cartwright (right) was Stoke City’s technical director between 2012 and 2019

The 48 year-old was then invited by the FA to join a select group including Brighton’s Dan Ashworth and Monaco’s Paul Mitchell to help create, develop, implement and improve a first ever workshop for elite-level technical directors.

Cartwright has also worked as a consultant on FIFA’s advisory panel on the future development of the global game.

Cartwright said: ‘There are more talented American-born players with the ability to compete on the game’s biggest stages than ever before, and I am looking forward to working with our owners, clubs, technical staffs and coaches to continue to develop a system within the USL that allows talent to be identified, nurtured and developed here within the states.’

USL president Jake Edwards said: ‘He [Cartwright] brings with him an intense focus on people, culture and community building, and we have no doubt he will be a tremendous asset for both USL HQ and our clubs over the coming years.’

The fast-growing USL is the biggest professional soccer organisation in North America. It contains 43 clubs in its two professional divisions, Championship and League One, a pre-professional third tier, academy and youth set up of over 500 clubs and will also launch a women’s pre-professional league next year.