Orlando Pride Add Goalkeeping Coach Lloyd Yaxley to Staff

It’s been a busy week for the Orlando Pride. In addition to multiple player acquisitions over the last several days, the club announced today the hiring of Lloyd Yaxley as goalkeeper coach. Yaxley takes over for Marcos Machado, who served as the Pride’s goalkeeper coach in 2016 after spending 2015 with Orlando City in MLS in the same capacity.

“I couldn't be more excited to be joining Orlando Pride and the world class Orlando City organization,” Yaxley said in a Pride press release. “I want to thank Tom Sermanni for giving me this amazing opportunity to help bring an NWSL championship to the city of Orlando. I'm eager to get to work with our goalkeepers and to see them having success in front of our fans, in our new stadium."

With the hiring, Orlando City has added two goalkeeper coaches in a matter of days, after the club added Tim Mulqueen as the goalkeeper coach on the MLS side just three days ago.

Yaxley spent the last four seasons with the Washington Spirit, where he worked with current USWNT and Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, helping her continue her development from 2013-2015. During Yaxley’s tenure, the Spirit qualified for the postseason in each of the last three seasons. Last year, Yaxley coached Spirit goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé, who went on to win a bronze medal with Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Prior to joining Washington, Yaxley was a coach for D.C. United Women and also served as director of goalkeeping and senior director of coaching for Prince William Soccer Inc.

A native of Essex, England, Yaxley joined the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team coaching staff during the team’s Istria Cup win last year in Croatia. In addition, he has coached the U.S. U-18 and U-23 goalkeepers at multiple camps, and was also called to assist the full U.S. Women’s National team’s two matches against Romania in November of 2016.

Before coming stateside, Yaxley oversaw goalkeepers for Chelsea FC affiliate P.A.S.S. and enjoyed a playing career with multiple overseas clubs.

“With Lloyd we are bringing on board one of the most respected goalkeeping coaches in the country,” Pride Head Coach Tom Sermanni said in a club press release. “After a very successful spell with Washington Spirit he has been heavily involved in the U.S. WNT at both senior and U-23 levels and will bring a wealth of women's soccer knowledge to our team. I would also like to thank our inaugural goalkeeper coach Marcos Machado for his contribution to the Pride in season one. Marcos is a consummate professional and a very popular member of our team. We’d like to thank him for everything he has done for both the Pride and the Orlando City organization.”

Yaxley holds both a USSF B coaching license and an NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping diploma.