Report: Chicago Stars to hire ex-Norway coach Martin Sjogren
Sjogren is currently coaching Hammarby in the Damallsvenskan, Sweden's top women's league. Hammarby's season concludes in November, prior to the NWSL Championship, but prior to the 2026 season, which begins in January.
It has been a tumultuous season in the Windy City, as the Stars have been through three head coaches and have only one win in 15 contests (1-9-5). They are just two points ahead of last-place Utah and a dozen points behind eighth-place Gotham FC, the team currently in the final playoff position. Only 11 contests remain in the regular season.
Lorne Donaldson, who guided the Stars to a playoff berth in 2024, was terminated in April and replaced by assistant coach Masaki Hemmi. Hemmi departed in July to take the head coaching position with Lexington SC of the USL Super League. Ella Masar took over as the second interim coach of the season and is currently guiding the squad.
Sjogren served as Norway's head coach from 2016-22 and piloted the 2019 squad to the quarter-final round of the World Cup. But the team struggled in 2016 and 2022, failing to make it out of the group stages and Sjogren resigned after the 2022 European Championships.
Sjogren, who competed collegiately at the University of North Florida (2000-01), has never coached in the United States.
--Field Level Media
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