Austin FC names Khaled El-Ahmad as new sporting director as MLS club continues major rebuild‎

Austin FC on Tuesday announced Khaled El-Ahmad as sporting director and chief soccer officer as the Major League Soccer club continues a major rebuild amid a danger of missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Austin FC currently sits 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference and well out of playoff position under interim coach Davy Arnaud, who took over after Nico Estévez was fired in May. Jim Curtain will take over as permanent head coach after this season. El-Ahmad, 45, has been sporting director at Minnesota the past two seasons, and the club reached the MLS playoffs both years.