Angela Marguerite Salem (born July 24, 1988) is an American soccer coach and former professional player who played as a midfielder. She is currently an assistant coach for the Bay FC of the NWSL. In 2016–17, she played for the Boston Breakers. She previously played for the Spirit, the Newcastle Jets in the Australian W-League, the Atlanta Beat and Sky Blue FC in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league, Western New York Flash in the NWSL, and the Finnish club Åland United of the Naisten Liiga.

Angela Salem
July 4, 2013; Angela Salem in Chicago Red Stars vs Western New York Flash
Personal information
Full name Angela Marguerite Salem[1]
Date of birth (1988-07-24) July 24, 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Akron, Ohio, United States
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Washington Spirit (assistant)
Youth career
Cleveland FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Francis Marion Patriots
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Sky Blue FC 3 (0)
2011 Atlanta Beat 11 (0)
2011 Åland United 7 (1)
2012 Western New York Flash 16 (1)
2012–2013 Newcastle Jets 7 (1)
2013–2014 Western New York Flash 46 (0)
2014 Newcastle Jets 12 (2)
2015 Washington Spirit 16 (0)
2016–2017 Boston Breakers 43 (1)
2018–2021 Portland Thorns 23 (2)
Managerial career
2022–2023 Washington Spirit (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life and education

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Born in Akron, Ohio Salem attended Copley High School in Copley, Ohio where she ended her high school career with 81 goals and 46 assists. She scored 23 goals and recorded 13 assists in her senior year alone, leading Copley to its fourth straight Suburban League title.[2][3]

Salem also played club soccer for Cleveland FC and was a member of the Ohio Olympic Development Program (ODP) team.[4]

Francis Marion University

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Salem attended Francis Marion University. During her freshman year, she tied the school record by recording 11 assists. As a sophomore, Salem was ranked third in scoring on the team. The midfielder was named team MVP during her sophomore and junior years. She was a co-captain and the team's leading scorer during the 2008 season. She is the first female alumna from Francis Marion University to play professional soccer.[1][5]

Springfield College

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While playing professional soccer for Portland Thorns FC, Salem earned a master's in education in clinical mental health education from Springfield College, graduating in May 2020.[6][5][7] During her masters education, she was the graduate assistant coach for three years under head coach John Gibson within Springfield's women's soccer program.[8][9][10]

Playing career

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Salem playing for the Newcastle Jets

Sky Blue FC (WPS)

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Salem signed with the Sky Blue FC for the 2010 WPS season. She played three games for the club. Sky Blue won the WPS Championship.[2][11]

Åland United (Naisten Liiga)

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In 2011 Salem played for Åland United, a Finnish club that plays in the top national women's league, the Naisten Liiga.[12]

Atlanta Beat (WPS)

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In 2011 Salem also played for the Atlanta Beat in the WPS. She started 9 of the 11 games she played.[13]

Western New York Flash (WPSL Elite)

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Salem appeared in all 16 matches for the Western New York Flash in the 2012 WPSL Elite season. She helped the team to its third consecutive championship, scoring the game-winning penalty kick after double overtime in the championship game against the Chicago Red Stars.[4][14]

Newcastle Jets (W-League)

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Salem played in the Australian W-League for the Newcastle Jets during the 2012–13 season.[12]

Western New York Flash (NWSL), 2013–2014

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In 2013, Salem signed with the Western New York Flash for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[15]

Return to Newcastle Jets

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In September 2014 Salem joined Newcastle Jets together with fellow Americans Katherine Reynolds and Tori Huster.[16]

Washington Spirit (NWSL), 2015

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Following the 2014 NWSL season, the Flash traded Salem and Kat Reynolds to the Washington Spirit for Jordan Angeli and a first-round pick—sixth overall—in the 2015 NWSL College Draft.[17] That pick was later used to select Lynn Williams.[18]

Boston Breakers (NWSL), 2016–17

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On November 19, 2015, Salem was acquired by the Boston Breakers in exchange for two second-round 2016 NWSL College Draft picks (12 & 20 respectively) from the Washington Spirit.[19] She played for the Breakers in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.[12]

Portland Thorns (NWSL), 2018–2021

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On January 30, 2018, the Portland Thorns selected Salem as the number fifteen pick in the dispersal draft following the Breakers' cessation of operations.[20][21] She scored her first goal for the Thorns, her first goal since 2016, on June 5, 2021, against Racing Louisville FC.[22] Salem scored her second goal for the club against rival OL Reign on August 29, 2021, at Lumen Field in Seattle.[citation needed]

In February 2022, Salem announced her retirement from professional soccer.[23]

Coaching career

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Washington Spirit (2022–2023)

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On March 23, 2022, the Washington Spirit named Salem, who holds a United States Soccer Federation B license, as an assistant coach.[24] After the Spirit fired head coach Kris Ward, Salem acted as de facto head coach for one game on August 27, 2022.[25] On December 6, 2023, she announced on social media her departure from the Spirit to pursue other opportunities.[26]

Bay FC (2024–)

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On December 14, 2023, Salem was announced as part of Bay FC manager Albertin Montoya's inaugural coaching staff. Salem and Montoya worked together when Montoya took on the interim position at the Washington Spirit through the end of the 2022 NWSL season.[27]

Honors

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Western New York Flash

Portland Thorns FC

Individual

Personal life

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As of 12 July 2023, Salem is engaged, and is the mother of a daughter born in October 2022.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Francis Marion". Francis Marion Athletics. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Hawkins, Michael (March 17, 2010). "FMU's Salem in training camp with Sky Blue FC". SCNow. Berkshire Hathaway. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  3. ^ Patrick, Sean (December 10, 2015). "New Copley Hall of Fame class set for induction". Akron.com. Leader Publications. Retrieved December 2, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Angela Salem". Western New York Flash. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Rhim, Kristian (October 22, 2017). "Angela Salem: A professional mindset". The Springfield Student. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Costello, Brian (June 7, 2021). "This Week in PTFC: Salem's special goal; International call-ups". Portland Thorns FC (Press release). Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Brockway, Ella (July 12, 2023). "Spirit's Angela Salem helps pave way for ex-players to coach in NWSL". Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "2017 Springfield College Women's Soccer Roster". Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "2018 Springfield College Women's Soccer Roster". Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "2019 Springfield College Women's Soccer Roster". Archived from the original on November 8, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Bayer, David (February 2011). "Four Games … 33 minutes … one shot … priceless". Our Game Magazine. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c "A. Salem". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  13. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (February 18, 2011). "Atlanta signs Salem, Bethke". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  14. ^ Lauletta, Dan (July 28, 2012). "Salem penalty kick gives Flash WPSL Elite title". The Equalizer. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  15. ^ "Western New York Flash have high hopes as NWSL kicks off". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York: Gannett Company. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  16. ^ Kerry, Craig (September 8, 2014). "W-League 2014: Tori Huster, Angela Salem, Katherine Reynolds join Newcastle Jets". The Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on September 8, 2014.
  17. ^ DiVeronica, Jeff (October 21, 2014). "WNY Flash makeover continues with trade of Salem and Reynolds". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York: Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  18. ^ "Dash select Brian No. 1 overall in 2015 NWSL Draft". The Equalizer. January 16, 2015. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  19. ^ "Breakers acquire midfielder Angela Salem from Washington". Boston Breakers (Press release). November 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  20. ^ "NWSL announces Boston Breakers to cease operations". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. January 28, 2018. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  21. ^ @NWSL (January 30, 2018). "With the 15th pick in today's dispersal draft, @ThornsFC select Angela Salem" (Tweet). Retrieved January 30, 2018 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Costello, Brian (June 5, 2021). "NWSL MATCH RECAP | Thorns FC 3, Racing Louisville FC 0". Portland Thorns FC. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  23. ^ FC, Portland Thorns. "Thorns FC midfielder Angela Salem announces retirement | Portland Timbers". Portland Thorns FC.
  24. ^ Soong, Kelyn (May 4, 2022). "Angela Salem Went From Retired NWSL Star to Spirit Assistant Coach". Washington City Paper.
  25. ^ Pittman, Sam (August 28, 2022). "Mike Bristol Added to Spirit Technical Staff » Washington Spirit". Assistant coach Angela Salem... will handle head coaching duties during the contest.
  26. ^ Salem, Angela (December 6, 2023). "Angela Salem Twitter profile". Twitter. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  27. ^ "Bay FC Announces Coaching Staff Ahead of Inaugural Season". Bay FC. December 14, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  28. ^ Snipes, Tyler (August 22, 2021). "The Portland Thorns are WICC Champions!". International Champions Cup. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
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