Success Story
Ally Mackay
University of Evansville
Ally Mackay left the Isle of Lewis, a remote island off the west coast of Scotland, to pursue his dream of making it as a footballer in America. Injury put pay to that ambition, but he now finds himself centre stage of Major League Soccer on the business side of the game in the music capital of the world.
About Ally
Ally Mackay left the Isle of Lewis, a remote island off the west coast of Scotland, to pursue his dream of making it as a footballer in America. Injury put pay to that ambition, but he now finds himself centre stage of Major League Soccer on the business side of the game in the music capital of the world.
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville, located in Indiana, competes at the highest level of collegiate athletics: NCAA Division I. Evansville is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, otherwise known as the MVC, or "The Valley". It is home to 7 varsity sports teams for men, and 9 for female athletes. It’s athletic departments teams are know as the UE Aces.
Results
Ally moved to the US from in 2007 on a soccer scholarship, having played for Ross County and Partick Thistle and joined the UE Aces as a tough but skilful defender. Playing a number of roles in the back four, he helped the side to their best defensive record for 10 years. Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from continuing his playing career, but having completed a sports business management degree, he stayed within the game with an exciting role off the field as a football agent.
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Meet Ally
Injury may have prevented Ally Mackay from making it big as a footballer, but university life in America has still taken him to the top of the game as he now finds himself as Assistant General Manager as one of Major League Soccer’s leading clubs, Nashville SC.
Growing up in the Isle of Lewis, Ally’s passion was football and his skill and determination led him to another part of the north of Scotland, signing for Ross County as a youngster. Moving to the bright lights of Glasgow with Partick Thistle, his ambition turned to the US and having become a Firstpoint USA client, he earned a scholarship at the University of Evansville in Indiana.
After a successful first season playing a key role in a defensive line-up which proved to be the EU Aces best performance in a 10-year period, his playing career was cut short by injury. Keen to stay within the game, he completed a sports business management degree and started out in his business career as a football agency with leading management company, Stellar Group, whose clients include Gareth Bale and Jess Lingard, enjoying life in Florida.
Having spent 10 years negotiating deals for his clients, Mackay now sits on the other side of the table, with his eye for talent landing him the role as Assistant General Manager at Nashville, the MLS’s newest club, where he moved to in 2019. He now works under the leadership of former Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre, in what has been a whirlwind three years, with Nashville reaching the play-offs in just their second full season in 2022, having finished 3rd in the regular season conference.