New York City FC have completed their coaching line up with four new additions to the Club’s Sporting Department.
Javier Perez and Christian Lattanzio have been named Assistant Coaches to new Head Coach Patrick Vieira, Kristian Wilson has been named Performance Coach, and Matthew Cook has been named Physical Performance Coach. The quartet will form part of Vieira’s team alongside Goalkeeping Coach Robert Vartughian. They will take up their roles on Jan. 1 2016 pending the acquisition of visas.
Perez joins New York City FC after a successful stint as Head Coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team. Lattanzio, Wilson and Cook all join from Manchester City, where they worked with Vieira for the Club’s Elite Development Squad.
Vieira said: “I am delighted that Javier, Christian, Kristian and Matt have agreed to join the team. They are high caliber coaches who understand my approach and philosophy and will make a significant contribution to this Club. It was important for me to work with people I know and trust, but also, in Javier, to bring in someone alongside Rob Vartughian who has an excellent understanding of US Soccer and MLS.
“I am really looking forward to getting started next month and to be working with such a strong coaching team.”
New York City FC Sporting Director, Claudio Reyna added: “In Christian, Javier, Kristian and Matt, we have added four top-class professionals with tremendous experience in football across the world. They have learned from some of the best minds in the game.”
“They all have had success working with young players and building up squads at the highest level – which will be key as we develop our roster. I am greatly looking forward to working with this group as we prepare for our second season in MLS.”
Perez, on top of his impressive spell with the U.S. Under 18 Men’s, has previously spent six years with Spanish club Real Madrid at the club’s development center. He was also Director of Coaching at New York Soccer Club.
Perez’s experience with U.S. Soccer saw him work with former U.S. Youth Technical Director - and current New York City FC Sporting Director - Reyna, to develop the U.S. Soccer coaching curriculum, which is designed to improve development of players in the United States. He has also worked with U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann as a member of staff and has lived in New York for the last six years.
Lattanzio spent six years at Manchester City, as Technical Co-ordinator for the Elite Development Squad, integrating the tactical, technical and mental elements into the squad’s training programs. Before that Lattanzio worked closely alongside some of football’s most decorated managers, including Fabio Capello during his spell with the England national team.
Wilson joins up with New York City FC after sharing success with Vieira as Manchester City’s EDS Performance Coach, working on specific training with the players since June 2013. The 34-year old’s first job in club football came at Sheffield Wednesday before joining the Academy coaching set up at Sheffield United.
Rounding out the Sporting Department additions is Cook, who spent the last four and a half years working with Vieira as Head of Sports Strength and Conditioning at Manchester City. Cook previously worked as a strength and conditioning coach for Great Britain’s Olympic cycling, swimming, and squash teams and grew up playing academy football for West Ham United.
