Kansas City Current fire head coach Matt Potter hours ahead of Wednesday evening game

Hours before an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match against the Houston Dash, the Kansas City Current on Wednesday announced the firing of head coach Matt Potter.

In a news release, the Current said Potter was fired because of “issues around his leadership and employment responsibilities.”

Caroline Sjöblom will serve as the team’s interim head coach. An assistant coach hired in the offseason, she will be on the sidelines for Wednesday night’s match in Houston.

“We watch the play on the pitch, we keep a pulse on the locker room, and we are constantly evaluating ways to improve our club,” said Current general manager Camille Ashton. “Through our ongoing process of continuous improvement, we believe now is the right time for this change.”

Potter, 53, is a British national who came to Kansas City with an extensive resume of coaching experience gained with the U.S. Women’s National Team and major-college soccer programs.

While the Current (0-3-0) are off to a slow start in 2023, Potter was a finalist for NWSL Coach of the Year award in 2022 after leading KC to the NWSL Championship Game in his first season on the job.

Potter had replaced the club’s original coach, Huw Williams, who was reassigned to a scouting and front office role with the team after coaching the Current through their inaugural season in the NWSL (2021). Williams and the organization later parted ways altogether.

The Current started the 2022 season 0-4-1 before rattling off a 13-game unbeaten streak and losing just twice in their next 17 games.

Construction of a new riverfront stadium for the Current is underway near downtown. The new venue is expected to open in time for next season.

This story was originally published April 19, 2023 at 1:54 PM.