D.C. United has interviewed Nashville SC assistant general manager Ally Mackay and Columbus Crew SC assistant GM Issa Tall for their GM opening, sources briefed on the process told The Athletic.
Both are understood to be finalists for the job, sources say. Both clubs granted D.C. United permission to speak with their respective candidates. On Tuesday, a person briefed on the situation said the club would likely finalize their new GM hire by the end of the MLS season. United are currently in the process of performing due diligence and background research on all potential candidates.
D.C. parted ways with current Bay FC GM Lucy Rushton at the end of the 2022 season and has been without a permanent general manager since then. In the interim, now-former coach Wayne Rooney was given a bigger say in the team’s roster decisions, while Dave Kasper, the club’s president of soccer operations and sporting director, has also taken on some of those responsibilities.
Nashville hired Mackay to be part of GM Mike Jacobs’ inaugural staff as the club prepared for its 2020 expansion season. Nashville has been among the most successful modern expansion clubs, making the playoffs in each of its first four seasons, including this year. Nashville’s best signings include reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar, two-time MLS Defender of the Year Walker Zimmerman, club captain Dax McCarty, Costa Rica international Randall Leal and more.
Prior to joining the Nashville front office, Mackay worked around the league as an agent. Nashville obviously would love to keep Mackay but are happy to let him interview for a job promotion at another club.
Tall has been with the Crew since 2020, part of the group that won MLS Cup that season. Previously, the former player worked for FIFA in their team services and competition department and worked with Toronto FC in scouting. He played collegiate soccer at Adelphi University, in New York.
D.C. has spoken with many other candidates, including at least one who is already in the building: technical director Stewart Mairs, who has been with the club for six years. Mairs is no longer a candidate for the GM position, a source said this week.
Whomever United hires will have at least one immediate task: finding a new head coach. Rooney and the club parted ways after the club wrapped up its season last weekend. D.C. is in playoff position but will miss postseason play after the remainder of MLS wraps things up this weekend.
(Photo: Geoff Burke / USA Today)