August 27, 2021
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Academy Director Matt Lawrey enters first year at the helm; seven teams to compete in three leagues.
The Academy’s U-13s through U-17s will compete in MLS NEXT, the youth development platform created by Major League Soccer last year. Additionally, the U-19s will compete in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) while the U-12s will compete in Southeastern Clubs Champions League (SCCL), respectively. The MLS NEXT season kicks-off Sept. 4.
The U-12s are led by first-year head coach Kellington Boddie, who was promoted last year from the club’s Regional Development School. Will Bates, a former striker at University of Virginia and Seattle Sounders’ first round 2013 MLS SuperDraft pick, joins the club for his first season and is head coach of the U-13s.
Zach Herold, former US Youth National Team standout and 2010 MLS SuperDraft Pick, will head up the U-14 squad for his third season in Atlanta. Omar Jarun enters his fourth season with the club and is U-15 head coach.
The U-16s are led by Kevin Kratz in his first season as a head coach. Kratz played for Atlanta United from 2017-19 and played professionally in Germany from 2006-2016.
Steve Covino, an original member of the Academy staff since 2016, is Atlanta’s U-17 head coach while Jose Silva, formerly a coach at Orlando City, leads the U-19s in his first season with the club.
#UniteAndConquer
By Atlanta United FC
