PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Tuesday that Head Coach Patrice Carteron had departed the club to take the same position at Al Ahly SC of the Egyptian Premier League. Carteron departs Phoenix having led the club to its first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs a season ago, and as the club’s all-time leader in points earned (71) and head coaching victories (20).

The club also announced that Rick Schantz had been appointed as interim Head Coach ahead of Rising FC’s game with Las Vegas Lights FC on Wednesday night. Schantz had previously led the club as interim Head Coach following the departure of Frank Yallop from Rising FC last season prior to Carteron’s arrival at the club.

“I am incredibly proud of my staff and players for their dedication and hard work to achieving such unprecedented success as a new professional soccer team,” said Carteron.  “The empowerment from Phoenix Rising FC Governor Berke Bakay and the entire ownership group, and support from the amazing fans has been truly fantastic.  I will forever remain among Phoenix Rising FC’s biggest fans.”

Founded in 1907, Al Ahly SC has a record of 40 national titles, 36 national cups and 10 national super cups making it the most decorated club in Egypt. In international competitions, the club has won a record 8 CAF Champions League titles, a CAF Confederation Cup title, a record 6 CAF Super Cup titles, a record 4 African Cup Winners' Cup titles, an Afro-Asian Club Championship title, an Arab Club Champions Cup title, and a record 2 Arab Super Cup titles. Al Ahly also won the bronze medal in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.

“Having Patrice at the helm of Phoenix Rising FC during our most important formative year has laid the foundation for decades of success,” said Phoenix Rising FC Governor Berke Bakay. “He deserves this opportunity to lead one of the world’s largest soccer teams, and they are extremely fortunate to have him as their new head coach.

“We have full confidence in Rick and our coaching staff to lead our team forward and accomplish the same goals we set for the club at the beginning of the year, which is to win the USL Cup,” added Bakay. “Rick has benefitted from studying under Patrice for the past year and is the right leader to guide our club forward for the remainder of the season.”