San Diego FC has a new technical director.
Chris Docherty was announced on Wednesday as the club’s new hire. He comes from the Scottish Football Association, where he served as his home country’s head of elite men’s strategy. Docherty has also helped run clubs in Russia and Hungary.
SDFC says Docherty will “help drive alignment between the first team, academy, and player development pathway under a unified football philosophy” in his new role. He replaces Kenneth Heiner-Møller, who is leaving to become Canada Soccer’s sporting director.
“Chris is a highly respected football leader whose experience spans elite player development, club strategy, recruitment, and technical leadership across multiple countries and levels of the game,” said SDFC sporting director Tyler Heaps.
SDFC is 4-6-5, one season after advancing to Major League Soccer’s Western Conference final. The club plans to pursue additional players, perhaps even a designated player, once the transfer window opens later this summer.
Regardless, Docherty’s role is one focused on the long haul.
“Last season already provided a glimpse of how exciting things can be for San Diego at the first team level, and with our academy only in its infancy, we feel we are just in the beginning of a long-term project,” Docherty said. “I look forward to working with the staff across all areas of the club, and ultimately, we hope to build a legacy that the people of San Diego can be proud of.”