Boston Legacy name Filipa Patao as first head coach

Field Level Media|published: 06/27/2025, 2:22pm EDT

Sep 30, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; A general view of the game ball before the game between Washington Spirit and Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Boston Legacy FC named Filipa Patao as the NWSL expansion club's first head coach.

Patao, 36, coached Benfica in her native Portugal from 2020-25, compiling a 156-28-15 record in all competitions.

She led Benfica to five consecutive league titles and was nominated for Ballon d'or Coach of the Year in 2024.

Patao will join Boston in July once her visa is approved to begin preparations for the club's 2026 debut.

"I'm very excited about going to Boston. I can't wait to get to the city, meet all the people, and start working," Patao said in a team release on Wednesday. "The American league is extremely competitive -- and that's one of the reasons I accepted this project. I like competition, difficulty, and getting the players to strive for more and better."

--Field Level Media