Nashville SC made waves in the eSports world on Tuesday, announcing that they have signed 2019 eMLS Cup winner Doolsta, aka Cormac Dooley.
Doolsta, who previously competed for the Philadelphia Union, becomes the MLS expansion team's first eSports signing. In addition to eMLS Cup, Doolsta also won the other two official eMLS tournaments in 2019, League Series One and Two.
“We are very excited to have Cormac join our team,” said Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre in a club statement. “We are building the foundation of Nashville SC on and off the pitch and we have said from the outset that in MLS we are coming to compete not just to take part! Adding the reining eMLS Cup Champion to our roster sets our ambition in the gaming arena. Not only will he be a strong player and proven talent when we first compete in eMLS, but he will also become a fantastic asset and mentor to future Nashville SC gamers.”
In addition to continuing his career as a professional FIFA player, Doolsta has reached a unique partnership with Nashville that will enable him to simultaneously pursue a degree in Sports Management through a scholarship funded by the club. Doolsta, 19, is currently a freshman at Temple University.
Born in the US, Doolsta moved with his family to Ireland as an infant before returning to the Philadelphia area in 2016. In 2018, he entered and won an open tournament to become the Union's eMLS player, and finished in the top eight of the 2018 eMLS season.
