Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós announced he will step away from the club for a five-week period following the Bats’ dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, taking parental leave after the recent birth of his second child, Laia.
Amorós made the announcement following the match, thanking Gotham FC for supporting his decision while emphasizing the importance of normalizing parental leave, especially among men in leadership positions.
“My wife and I recently welcomed our second child, Laia, and I’ll be taking the next five weeks away from the team to spend this important time with my family,” Amorós said. “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at Gotham FC for supporting us unconditionally while we were deciding to take this step.”
A Personal Decision with a Bigger Message
Amorós said the decision was personal for his family but acknowledged the visibility that comes with his role as a head coach and the opportunity to highlight the importance of shared parenting responsibilities.
“This is a personal decision for our family, but I also recognize the visibility that comes with my role,” Amorós said. “When fathers take parental leave, particularly men in leadership positions, it helps normalize an important principle: caring for children is a shared responsibility between parents.”
The Gotham FC manager said he needed to be present for his family during this important moment while pointing to the broader conversations surrounding childcare and family support in soccer.
“This was a big topic during the U.S. Soccer collective bargaining conversations in 2022,” Amorós said. “Child care is a parental issue. This is a value I believe in for myself, for my wife and for my family. I need to be there for my family.”
Amorós said the biggest challenge for many head coaches is finding balance between their professional responsibilities and family life, and he hopes his decision encourages others in similar positions to take parental leave when possible.
“I hope this step I’m taking as a male head coach encourages other head coaches, male or female, to do the same,” Amorós said. “The biggest struggle we always have as head coaches is finding the balance between our family life and our professional life, and I really hope this helps others make that decision.”
Gotham FC Support Behind Amorós’ Decision
Amorós informed Gotham FC’s players of his decision several weeks ago during the team’s road trip to San Diego, giving the group time to process and support his choice before the announcement became public. The head coach praised Gotham FC for creating an environment where employees are supported as parents, regardless of their position within the organization.
“I could not be prouder to work for a club that recognizes people should be supported as parents, regardless of their position or their role,” Amorós said.
The support from his players was also an important part of the decision-making process for Amorós, who said their response meant a great deal to him.
“I’m deeply appreciative of our players for supporting me in this decision as well,” Amorós said. “That is very important to me. They’ve been fantastic.”
Amorós said he has complete confidence in Gotham FC’s staff and players while he spends time away from the team.
“I have complete confidence in our staff and players, and I look forward to spending this important time with my family before returning to the team,” Amorós said.
Harris to Lead Gotham FC During Absence
Lead assistant head coach Shaun Harris will serve as Gotham FC’s acting head coach during Amorós’ five-week parental leave, with the Gotham FC manager expressing confidence that the team will be in good hands during his absence.
The transition has been in the works for several weeks, with Amorós and the club preparing the technical staff to ensure continuity across training sessions, match preparation and game-day responsibilities while he is away.
The Spanish tactician said the trust within Gotham FC extends beyond one individual, highlighting the collective work of the club’s technical staff behind the scenes.
“Obviously, we’ve been working on it for the last five or six weeks with the club,” he said. “Honestly, they have so much trust and also not only on me. I always tell you guys, there is like all the people that I keep mentioning, you know, Shaun [Harris], Sean [Nahas], Zoë [Mattheson], Michelle [Betos] and Brody [Sams], Ak [Lakhani] and Will [Guillermo Amorós], everyone is there behind the scenes working so hard.”
Harris has previously stepped into the role during multiple stretches this season when Amorós was unavailable and will now lead Gotham FC through a three-match road trip.
The Bats’ stretch away from home begins July 24 against Portland Thorns FC at Providence Park. Gotham FC will return home Aug. 7 to host San Diego Wave FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Focus Remains on Championship Pursuit
Although Amorós will step away from the sidelines, the timing of his absence comes during an important stretch of Gotham FC’s season. The Bats will rely on Harris and the rest of the coaching staff to maintain momentum as the club continues its push for a third championship.
Gotham FC has established itself as one of the NWSL’s premier clubs under Amorós, winning the 2023 and 2025 NWSL Championships, and will look to continue that success while navigating a challenging portion of the schedule without its head coach on the sideline.
Amorós will return to the club following his five-week leave as Gotham FC continues its pursuit of another championship.
