Alan Pace’s next Burnley move reveals major shift behind the scenes | OneFootball

Burnley are set to appoint American executive Garth Lagerwey to help run their football side.

Burnley are back in the Championship after failing to remain in the Premier League, which has been the story of their life over the past five years.

The Clarets are currently without a manager following the departure of Scott Parker, leaving owner Alan Pace with some big off-pitch decisions to make ahead of the new season.

Interim boss Mike Jackson oversaw the end of the campaign, but it looks unlikely he'll be in the dugout come the start of next season, with names such as Steven Gerrard and Russell Martin linked with the vacancy at Turf Moor.

A change in management will also mean a further shake up of the backroom staff, as head coaches and managers more often than not like to bring in their own assistants after taking a job.

Interestingly, it seems the staff in the dugout next season won't be the only department experiencing a summer switch up, as a report has emerged suggesting Pace has his eye on a new head of football operations.

Burnley set to appoint Garth Lagerwey to help run their football side

Action Image

Pace is looking to help Burnley become an established Premier League outfit once again after five years of yo-yoing between the top flight and the Championship.

With that goal in mind, the American is now set to make a major appointment behind the scenes, according to a report from journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page on Sunday morning.

The appointment in question is reportedly set to be Pace's compatriot Garth Lagerwey, who'll be headed to Turf Moor to help run the football side of the club.

Pace has previous connections to Lagerwey from the latter's stint at Real Salt Lake, where he took his first steps in management.

According to Nixon, the Burnley owner is looking to improve other departments around the club, but believes the appointment of Lagerwey will be his biggest signing this summer.

Lagerwey recently recovered from cancer, which was the reason he left his post at Atlanta United at the start of the year, but he will be available to start his role in Lancashire now he has a clean bill of health.

Who is Garth Lagerwey? The man set to become the brains behind Burnley's footballing operations

Action Images

Lagerwey's name isn't synonymous with English football, so Burnley fans would be forgiven for not knowing much about the man who's set to become the brains behind their footballing operations.

Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, Lagerwey was a two-time all-state goalkeeper during his time at York High School, before he moved to Germany in 1990 to join SC Freiburg's academy.

He returned to the United States two years later, where he went on to a seven-year-long playing career, five of which he spent in the MLS, making 51 appearances in the American top flight.

It was management where Lagerwey made a name for himself, as he was hired as Real Salt Lake's senior vice president and general manager in September 2007.

Over a seven-year spell, the former goalkeeper played a huge part in the club's success, helping them win the 2009 MLS Cup, and reach the final of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League and 2013 MLS Cup.

Lagerwey then joined RSL's conference rivals, Seattle Sounders, in 2014, amid other offers from MLS clubs. After his arrival, the Sounders won two MLS Cups and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, which saw him named Best Executive at the World Football Summit that same year.

In November 2022, Lagerwey joined Atlanta United as president and CEO, where he departed in July 2025 due to his health issues.

Now, the 53-year-old is reportedly set to try his hand at English football with Burnley to see if he can replicate some of the success he's achieved across the atlantic.