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MLS Sporting Kansas City

Declan Jogi Named Sporting KC Academy Director

August 25, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Sporting Kansas City announced today that Declan Jogi has been promoted to Sporting KC Academy Director after serving as an academy head coach at the club since 2015.

Jogi becomes the third Academy Director in Sporting KC history after Jon Parry held the role from 2008 until his retirement earlier this year. Jogi, who coached the Sporting KC U-13s from 2015-2017, has led the U-14s for the last five years and brings a wealth of youth soccer experience into his new position. He has also played an integral part in the development and mentorship of Sporting KC Academy players of all ages, positioning them for success on and off the field.

Reporting to Sporting KC Manager and Sporting Director Peter Vermes, Jogi will lead a robust Academy staff that consists of head coaches at the U-12 through U-19 levels, goalkeeper and fitness coaches, trainers and physicians as well as a director of player care, team administrator, nutritionist and scout. In addition, he will work closely with a large network of Academy Affiliates spanning the Midwest and continue to oversee the club's Center of Excellence youth program.

Sporting has signed 16 Homegrown Players to MLS contracts during Jogi's tenure and in 2018 received the inaugural MLS Academy of the Year award for its outstanding player development. Jogi has also coached several Academy products who have competed professionally for Sporting KC II in the USL Championship and MLS NEXT Pro.

With Jogi at the helm, the Sporting KC Academy U-14s were crowned winners of the 2019 LA Galaxy Cup and the 2021 US Youth Futsal National Championships while also making a historic run to the semifinals of the 2018 US Youth Soccer National Championship. His teams have excelled across several competitive platforms since 2015, including MLS NEXT, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, US Youth Soccer and prestigious national tournaments involving the country's best youth clubs.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Jogi played college soccer at King University in Tennessee, where he is a member of the school's athletic hall of fame. He then enjoyed a successful professional career with the Charlotte Eagles of the United Soccer League as well as Acadia United and Dynamos FC in the Zimbabwe Premier League.

After his playing career ended, Jogi began coaching youth players in Eastern Tennessee with FC Fusion and FC Dallas TRI, where he was the Director of Coaching for the Pre-K to U-14 age groups. While in Tennessee, Jogi was on the state Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff and was named the Tennessee Boys Competitive Coach of the Year in 2014.

Jogi holds a U.S. Soccer A License and an Elite Formation Coaching License through the French Football Federation.

In conjunction with Jogi's appointment as Academy Director, Sporting has announced an Academy head coaching realignment ahead of the 2022-23 MLS NEXT season. U-17 head coach Chris O'Neal, U-15 head coach Luis Pacheco and U-14 head coach Colby Childress have all transitioned to older age groups after serving as Sporting's head coaches at the U-15, U-13 and U-12 levels, respectively. Additionally, former Sporting KC midfielder and Sporting KC II captain Christian Duke has joined the Academy technical staff as the new U-12 and U-13 head coach. Jogi will serve as the club's U-19 head coach.

Sporting KC Academy Coaches for 2022-23 MLS NEXT Season

U-19: Declan Jogi

U-17: Chris O'Neal

U-15: Luis Pacheco

U-14: Colby Childress

U-12 and U-13: Christian Duke

Goalkeeper Coach: Paulo Pita

Fitness Coach: Colby Fell

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