Philadelphia native Chris Albright won the Supporters’ Shield with two different MLS teams as a player and after Saturday night can say the same of his post-playing career in the front office.

Albright, who was the Philadelphia Union technical director when they had the league’s best regular season record in 2020, is the general manager of 2023 Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati clinched a first place finish with a 3-2 win over Toronto FC on Saturday.

Albright, a former U.S. International who played youth soccer for Juniata YSA, FC Bayern and Council Rock, has helped lead FC Cincinnati from a last place finish in each of their first three seasons in MLS to a 10th place finish last season and first place finish this year since his hiring in 2021.

Albright is one of several connections between the Philadelphia Union - where he ended his playing career in 2013 - and FC Cincinnati. Head coach Pat Noonan was an assistant coach under Jim Curtin with the Union and former Union players Sergio Santos, Ray Gaddis and Alvas Powell are on the team. Santos and Gaddis were both part of the Supporters’ Shield win with the Union in 2020. Albright is also a cousin of Philadelphia Union attacker Quinn Sullivan.

As a player, Albright won MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield with DC United in 1999 and both trophies again with LA Galaxy in 2002. He won a third MLS Cup with LA Galaxy along with a U.S. Open Cup in 2005.

Photo Credit: FC Cincinnati