13 Facts About Gavin Wilkinson

Gavin Wilkinson was born on 5 November 1973 and is a former New Zealand footballer who served as general manager and President of Soccer for the Portland Timbers from 2009 to 2022.

Gavin Wilkinson was general manager and president of soccer for the Portland Thorns FC from its inception in 2013 until 2022.

Gavin Wilkinson was hired by Sporting Kansas City in January 2024 to serve as the franchise's sporting director, but released shortly after backlash from their fanbase.

Gavin Wilkinson played defence for with the USL Portland Timbers from 2001 to 2006, adding assistant coach duties in 2005 and 2006.

Gavin Wilkinson retired as an active player and was named Head Coach and General Manager for Portland Timbers in September 2006.

Gavin Wilkinson played for the New Zealand national football team, the All Whites and collected 33 caps in official FIFA internationals, scoring 1 goal.

On 18 January 2010, Gavin Wilkinson was named Technical Director of the expansion Portland Timbers club in Major League Soccer, set to begin play in the 2011 season.

Gavin Wilkinson assumed those duties while still coaching the Timbers through the 2010 season.

Gavin Wilkinson was the general manager of the Portland Thorns, the Timbers' sister club in the National Women's Soccer League from its inception in 2013.

An investigation by DLA Piper found that Gavin Wilkinson had committed no wrongdoing and had no involvement in the scandal besides terminating Riley after the 2015 season.

An October 2022 report on abuse in the NWSL commissioned by the USSF and led by Sally Yates stated that Gavin Wilkinson had indicated that Riley should be hired by a different club, and that he initially claimed to reporters that Riley was fired because the team failed to make the playoffs.

Gavin Wilkinson was hired by Sporting Kansas City in January 2024 to serve as the club's sporting director.

Gavin Wilkinson has volunteered with and supported nonprofit organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which helps support the wishes of critically ill children, Blessings in a Backpack, which provides nutritious meals to students, Solve Cleanup, which removes litter from public spaces, and student art programs.