Ian Sawyers Biography – Former Soccer Coach And Julie Foudy’s Husband

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Ian Sawyers Bio

Ian Sawyers started coaching soccer at the age of 28. Image Source: Social Media.

  • Birth DateMay 2, 1962
  • Birth Name Ian Sawyers
  • Age 62
  • Birth Place Sunderland, England
  • Birth Sign Taurus
  • Nationality British
  • Profession Vice President
  • Partner Julie Foudy
  • Relationship Status Married
  • Eye Color Brown
  • Children Isabel Ann Sawyers, Declan Sawyers
  • Education Bachelor's Degree
  • Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Sawyers

Ian Sawyers is a former soccer player and manager who played for England’s Rotherham United Club. He also served as the Director of Soccer for Mission Viejo Soccer Club in the late 80s. After managing five clubs in his career, he stepped down from coaching duty in 2009.

After leaving as a coach more than a decade ago, Sawyers currently works at the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy (JFSLA). Julie Foudy‘s husband serves as the vice-president of the academy. Having been inactive in the coaching business for many years, people are curious to know how he transitioned from a coach to work in the creative aspect of a company. So, let’s learn about those in this biography.

Started Coaching At 28

Ian was born on May 2, 1962, to English parents in Sunderland, England. He does not use social media often, hence it’s quite difficult to find the details about his mom and dad. Nevertheless, Ian Sawyers’ father and mother must have supported his career since he started his career when he was pretty young, at the age of 28.

Ian Sawyers Family
Ian Sawyers’ parents must have supported his career earlier. Image Source: Social Media.

Sawyers attended the Carnegie School of Physical Education, a division of Leeds Metropolitan University, and completed his Bachelor’s Degree. Ian started playing college soccer and was a non-contract midfielder for Rotherham’s reserves team for a season. After taking over the role as director, where he took over a youth soccer program in California, he joined the staff of the Stanford University women’s soccer program as the assistant coach.

Moreover, in his first season, Sawyer’s team Stanford Cardinal won 18 games and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Championship. Likewise, Julie Foudy’s husband also served as the head coach of the Sacramento Storm from 1993 to 1998. With good collegiate success, he was offered more jobs going forward.

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Ian Sawyers Net Worth And Career

With a career that started over three decades ago, one can expect Ian to have built quite an experience in the field of coaching and decision-making. Sawyers has not only been the head coach of several teams but also is working as the president of a soccer academy. With such a variety of different career choices, one can assume Ian Sawyers’ net worth to be adequate.

Sawyers was named the head coach of Bay Area CyberRays, one of the eight founding teams in the Women’s United Soccer Association. He guided the team to the inaugural WUSA Championship and also earned the WUSA Coach of the Year for 2001. Then, in 2008, Ian was appointed by Sky Blue FC but was suspended a year later due to differences with the organization’s ownership.


However, that was the end of Ian’s head coach duties as he started paying full attention to Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, which was founded in 2006. The academy helps in honing the skills of young girls from the age of 12 to 18 with a combined sports camp of soccer or lacrosse. Julie Foudy’s husband has been serving as the vice president of the academy since its launching.

An average salary of a soccer coach in the NCAA Division I is $51,205. But, since Ian left coaching a long time ago, could it be he used to earn slightly lesser than that amount? Nonetheless, with all his work as a vice president and Director of Soccer, Ian Sawyers’ net worth must be noteworthy.

James Sands is another soccer player with a huge net worth.

Married For 27 Years; Has Two Kids

As mentioned above, Ian is in a happy marital life with the former United States national women’s team player Foudy. The couple got married on July 30, 1995. Ian Sawyers’ wife is a two-time FIFA World Cup Champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and now works as a commentator for ESPN.

Ian Sawyer’s spouse was born on January 23, 1971, in San Diego, California. She played 274 games for the US national team and scored a total of 45 goals. Having won such prestigious awards, she is an inspiration to many women in the country who want to pursue a career in soccer.

The former soccer player has given birth to two children, a son and a daughter. Ian Sawyer’s daughter, Isabel Ann Sawyers, is his first child, who was born on January 1, 2007. Likewise, his youngest kid, Declan Sawyers, came into this world in December 2008.

Ian Sawyers' Children
Ian Sawyers married Julie in 1995 and has welcomed a son and a daughter with her. Image Source: Julie Foudy Instagram.

Overall, Ian has had a successful career and is currently enjoying a creative job with his soccer player spouse. Let’s hope he can continue to achieve even more and be happy with his family.

Trivia And Facts

  • Ian started dating Julie in 1989.
  • He played as a midfielder.