After Last Season’s Trophy Double, Gotham Seeks Success on the World Stage
Juan Carlos Amoros has achieved sustained success in building Gotham FC into a powerhouse in the NWSL .
After leading the Bats to a NWSL Championship and CONCACAF W Champ ions Cup double last season, the 41-year-old Spanish head coach looks to further enhance the club’s reputation abroad ahead of the inaugural 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Amoros and his staff have prioritized small steps in pursuit of larger club goals. His detailed game-by-game approach is similar to the philosophy of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, who often uses the phrase “partido a partido" (Spanish for game by game) to describe the mindset that he instills into his team.
“We try to focus on the day-to-day,” Amoros said during Friday’s media conference. “We know that if we enjoy ourselves and perform better, then we’re going to be able to win the short term and win in the long term.
“I think sometimes we don’t try to focus too much on outcomes. We know we want to win the championship, we know we want to win the FIFA Champions Cup, but right now we focus on how we can get one step closer, how we can be better tomorrow, how we can be better the day after. I think that’s what keeps us going, and at the same time, it’s about enjoying that process. When you put too much focus on just the outcome, then you forget about the steps. The steps are actually enjoyable as well.”
Amoros Has Ushered in a Trophy-Laden Era for Gotham
Since taking charge of Gotham ahead of the 2023 season, Amoros has led Gotham to two NWSL Championships and one CONCACAF W Champions Cup title. He became the club’s most successful coach within a span of three seasons.
Last year, he became the first coach in NWSL history to win domestic and continental trophies in a single season. His 74 regular-season games coached surpassed Jim Gabarra (66) for the most in Gotham’s history.
Amoros is entering his fourth season with Gotham with the opportunity to repeat as NWSL and CONCACAF W Champions Cup champions. The Bats will soon compete in the semifinal round of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in late January and will welcome the Kansas City Current at Sports Illustrated Stadium for the NWSL Challenge Cup on February 20.
“I always say you try to win a title for months or years, and you actually win it when the referee blows the whistle at the final moment,” Amoris said. “It’s just a second, but you have to enjoy all the time until that moment and then be ready to do it again. That’s the nature of who we are – especially enjoying every day.”
Gotham enters 2026 with the chance to compete for four trophies with the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and NWSL Challenge Cup in addition to their defense of the NWSL Championship and CONCACAF W Champions Cup .
“Now, forever, we’re going to be the first champions of the continent at club level, and we want to do the same at the world level,” Amoros stated.
Gotham Could Make History as First-Ever NWSL Club To Win Quadruple
If everything breaks right for Gotham, they could make unprecedented history. No NWSL franchise has achieved a single-season trophy quadruple. The Bats could emulate women’s European clubs like Barcelona , Arsenal and Chelsea, who’ve won four or more trophies in a single season.
“It’s been hard-fought to get the resources and recognition the club has now, but I think we’re better for it,” defender Mandy Freeman said. “The club is really pushing not only the soccer aspect, but also the global aspect of who we want to be among the rest of the teams.
Every year is a push. Every year is a drive – wanting to grow, wanting to be better.”
Gotham has begun preseason training in Sotogrande, Spain, in preparation for the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, which will take place in London.
The Bats will open the tournament against Brazilian club Corinthians on January 28 at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, London. Should Gotham advance, they will face the winner of Arsenal and Moroccan club AS FAR in the tournament’s February 1 final at Emirates Stadium.
Amoros recognizes the mentality of unquenchable desire within his squad .
“The hunger they have to win is unbelievable,” Amoros stated. “It’s in their nature. They win one competition, and they’re already thinking about the next one.
“When I came here, I wanted to leave a legacy, and the situation the club and the team were in wasn’t ideal. I want to be remembered as a good person who’s been at a football club and helped make it better. I think so far we’ve been able to achieve that.
“Obviously, we’ve made history with the trophies and success we’ve had at club level, but also at an individual development level. It’s becoming more and more real. If you had told me when I was starting my fourth year that we’d be competing on the world stage with Gotham, I would have said that was the target.”
Freeman has been essential to the winning environment that Gotham has built. At age 30, she is the longest-tenured player in the organization’s history and is entering her 10th season with the club.
“The intensity of training — we’ve picked up where we left off,” Freeman said. “There was no real reentry. We just hit the ground running with the [FIFA Women’s Champions Cup] coming up really soon.
“We’re not satisfied. We won the championship, but we’re not satisfied with where we ended in the standings, and that’s something we definitely want to improve this year. That starts now – building the foundation not only for winning this competition, but carrying that over into the season.”
Bats Bring 29-Player Roster to Europe
Gotham has assembled a 29-player roster for the preseason. The years in parenthesis represent the player's contract expiry.
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Goalkeepers (3): Ann-Katrin Berger (2026), Ryan Campbell (2028), Shelby Hogan (2026)
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Defenders (8): Bruninha (2027), Jess Carter (2026), Tierna Davidson (2027), Kayla Duran** (2026), Mandy Freeman (2026), Kat Jordan*, Lilly Reale (2027), Emily Sonnett (2026)
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Midfielders (10): Sofia Cook (2026), Josefine Hasbo (2027), Jaelin Howell (2027), Rose Lavelle (2026), Savannah McCaskill (2026), Stella Nyamekye (2027), Sarah Schupansky (2027), Jaedyn Shaw (2029), Talia Sommer (2026), Taryn Torres (2027)
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Forwards (8): Princess Ademiluyi (2029), Esther González (2027), Khyah Harper (2026), Andrea Kitahata (2026), Gabi Portilho (2026), Midge Purce (2026), Katie Stengel** (2026), Mak Whitham (2028)
* Non-roster invitee
** Contract expires following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup
Freeman understands her role of serving as a veteran leader who sets the standard for young players to follow. Her veteran influence can positively impact new signings like midfielder Talia Sommer and forward Andrea Kitahata as they adjust to Amoros’ playing style and the demands that come with joining the reigning NWSL champions.
“That means getting the new players we have in camp on board with our playing style, the connection and the culture of the team and fixing the little things we felt could have improved our standings last year as well,” Freeman said.
Amoros, his staff and veteran players like Freeman, captain Tierna Davidson, longtime USWNT defender Emily Sonnett and experienced goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger have laid the groundwork for Gotham’s success through sheer attention to detail.
Little details and small steps have added up to championships as Gotham seeks to entrench itself among the world’s most successful women’s soccer teams.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
