The members of the MLS Eastern Conference plan to include a tattoo artist in their staff.
The front office term of ‘CTO’ just adopted a whole new meaning. Traditionally, the abbreviation is short for Chief Technology Officer, but the Philadelphia Union intend to give it a second nature. For them, a potential CTO will join the front office as a Chief Tattoo Officer. As the newest staff member in the clubhouse, the CTO will be able to provide their service to players and personnel alike.
Soccer players have always had a knack for style. Away from the pitch, they’re usually photographed in designer suits and slick hairstyles. So with their wardrobes taken care of, members of the Union get to experience their own personal ink artist. If the player desires, one can pledge allegiance to the club with the “Don’t Tread on Me” crest. But of course, if they opt out and want something more custom, they could always aim for something different.
While it’s probably one of the oddest additions to a front office in professional sports history, the Union’s new CTO could set a new trend. As silly as the quality control position on some NFL teams, a Chief Tattoo Officer is just berserk, even for a sport that admires stylish lifestyles. Regardless, it presents an opportunity for other teams to look up to the Union if they decide to embark on a similar path.
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Most recently, the Union topped off their 2016 MLS campaign with a losing streak of four games. Their last game was a 3-1 postseason defeat at the hands of Toronto FC. After the 2017 MLS preseason concludes, the Philadelphia Union will open up their 2017 season with the Vancouver Whitecaps, and quite possibly sporting some new ink.