Hartford Athletic has a new coach. The United Soccer League squad has hired Harry Watling, 31, of England. Bruce Mandell, the chairman of Hartford Athletic said in a news release that Watling “is among the most highly regarded young coaches” in that country. “He has learned from some of the best soccer minds in the world and has shown a strong ability to develop and maximize talent,” Mandell said. Prior to the Hartford hiring, Watling was an academy coach for several English soccer clubs including Chelsea FC and West Ham United. “This is an incredible opportunity for me to continue to grow as a Coach, but also to build on the success and culture that has been established here in Hartford,” Watling said. Watling takes the reins of a club that was a USL playoff team in 2020 – one year after a dreadful inaugural season. He’ll be the third head coach in Athletic’s three-year history.
