Austin FC Tab El-Ahmad to Lead Sporting Vision

Austin FC are set to name Minnesota United's Khaled El-Ahmad as the club's new chief soccer officer, sources briefed on the situation have confirmed. The 45-year-old Swede has served as Minnesota's sporting director since the end of 2023 and now steps into a key leadership role as Austin embark on a sweeping organizational overhaul.

El-Ahmad arrives in Texas with a reputation built on both domestic and international experience. During his tenure in Minnesota, he guided the club to the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of his two full seasons at the helm — a track record that clearly appealed to an Austin side looking to re-establish itself as a competitive force in the Western Conference.

A Global Background

Before his time in MLS, El-Ahmad served as sporting director for English club Barnsley, where he honed his skills in player recruitment and squad building. His career also includes a stint with the City Football Group, the umbrella organization that operates Manchester City and several other clubs worldwide, giving him exposure to one of the most sophisticated football operations in the global game.

Austin are said to be excited about El-Ahmad's blend of experience within the league and abroad, viewing him as the ideal figure to architect a roster capable of competing at the highest level in MLS.

Collaborative Front Office Taking Shape

El-Ahmad will not be working in isolation. He is set to collaborate with a front office that is being actively expanded, including Dean Costalas, who joined Austin this summer as senior vice president of soccer strategy. Costalas previously worked alongside incoming head coach Jim Curtin during their time together in Philadelphia, creating a thread of familiarity that could prove invaluable as the new regime takes hold.

Curtin, a two-time MLS Coach of the Year, is set to take over as Austin's head coach after the current season, signaling the club's ambition to pair elite technical leadership with proven tactical direction on the sidelines.

Minnesota Moves Forward

El-Ahmad's departure leaves a void in Minnesota, but the club appears prepared. Hank Stebbins, currently the team's head of recruitment, will step in as interim chief soccer officer. Stebbins is highly regarded within the organization and is expected to serve as the lead sporting executive while also being considered a candidate for the permanent position, according to sources.

The dual narrative — Austin building toward the future with a new Sporting structure, and Minnesota maintaining continuity through a trusted internal hire — underscores the interconnected nature of MLS executive movement, where proven sporting directors are increasingly prized commodities.