Distinguished Us National Team, MLS Coach Peter Mellor Joins USL

February 23, 2010 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues has added another level of team service today with the addition of renowned professional coach Peter Mellor as National Technical Director, USL CEO Alec Papadakis announced. Mellor, a staff coach with the United States Soccer Federation since 1992, will be charged with managing the technical aspects of USL's player development programs as well as assisting USL teams in scouting, development and advancement of players. He will also establish a network of coaches throughout the U.S. and Canada who will work to identify top goalkeeping talent for USL teams.

"I've always had a great deal of respect for Peter and the success he's had in coaching and developing players at all levels of the US National Team program," Papadakis said. "Most importantly, he will be yet another valuable resource for our clubs, especially in the USL PRO divisions, as we continue to raise the bar on the level of service USL provides. Peter will play an integral role in USL's mission to grow the game and develop players into future professional and international prospects. We could not ask for a more qualified individual to oversee the technical side of our ODP events for the Super Y-League and USL player combines as well as aiding our teams in the U.S. and Canada in creating or refining their player development and scouting programs."

Mellor, who designed and authored the curriculum for the first US Soccer National Goalkeeping License for coaches, will develop a comprehensive training program for USL goalkeepers. He will also establish USL's first regional training camps for men's and women's goalkeepers, and will be available for USL coaches when needed.

In addition to his technical role domestically, Mellor will assist USL Senior Director of International Development Francisco Marcos and USL partner Beswicks, an English sports management and law firm. Using his deep connections throughout European soccer, Mellor will work to develop professional opportunities for USL players.

What they're saying about Peter Mellor

"Peter is a highly respected coach and educator of the game in this country and he has earned a fabulous reputation in the United States at both the youth and professional levels. Besides being an outstanding goalkeeping coach, he's a dependable assistant coach and excellent teacher of the game. His experience should be invaluable in continuing the growth of USL." - Bruce Arena, former US Men's National Team and current LA Galaxy Head Coach

"Peter is one of the great gentlemen in soccer. I have enjoyed working with him over the years and know that he will push the level of the [USL] upward in his new position, which is great for all of us in the professional game. Peter knows soccer and is great to work with and as we share clubs in our past [Fulham FC] I know that his presence in the professional ranks is a bonus." - Kasey Keller, former US Men's National Team and current Seattle Sounders goalkeeper

"Peter has played a huge part in my development, not only at the youth level but in the pro ranks. His knowledge of the game and experience on and off the field has not only made me a stronger goalkeeper, but also a great professional." - Nick Rimando, current Real Salt Lake and US Men's National Team goalkeeper

A professional goalkeeper for two decades, Mellor played 17 years in the top three tiers of English professional soccer with Burnley, Fulham, Hereford United and Portsmouth. He also served as the English U-23 National Team goalkeeper from 1969-70.

Mellor's acclaim, however, is for his coaching. He joined the US National Team staff in 1992 and became one of the foremost goalkeeping instructors in the United States, coaching players in the US Men's and Women's national team programs at all levels. Among the players Mellor has identified or coached are Kasey Keller, Marcus Hahnemann, Brad Friedel, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu, Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley, Bobby Convey and Tim Howard, whom he originally identified at age 14 and placed into the ODP program.

Mellor has also worked with numerous players on the women's side of the game, including starting US Women's National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo. He will be equally involved with the development of women's players in USL's W-League, Super-20 League and Super Y-League.

"I'm honored to be appointed as USL's first National Technical Director," Mellor said. "I'm excited to be in a position with USL to be able to utilize and implement the 30 years of experience I have gained working at every level of the game as a player, coach and educator. I look forward to developing the technical aspect of USL at all levels, and serving as a resource for all of our franchise owners, coaches and players."

In addition to his work with players, Mellor has been instrumental in developing coaches while serving as national staff coach and goalkeeping instructor for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, where he has trained more than 4,000 coaches in various programs in his 15 years with the organization.

Mellor's coaching experience includes serving as one of the original coaches for the US U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida in 1996 after serving as the goalkeeper coach for the nearby Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer. He helped scout, coach and develop many of the current US internationals headed to the World Cup in South Africa from 1996-04 in Bradenton and still assists on occasion at the facility. In 2005, Mellor left his post in Bradenton and as the US National Goalkeeping coach to serve as the assistant coach for the expansion MLS club Real Salt Lake, managing the goalkeepers and the club's reserve squad.

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