Dos Santos Introduced as Swope Park Rangers' Coach
November 20, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sporting Kansas City II News Release
Swope Park Rangers Coach Marc Dos Santos
(Sporting Kansas City II, Credit: Ottawa Fury FC)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Swope Park Rangers introduced Marc Dos Santos as the club's first head coach on Friday morning at a press conference at Three Points, and also announced Christian Duke as the club's first signing as it continues to build toward its inaugural season in the USL in 2016.
A former head coach for the Montreal Impact in the USL, with whom he claimed the USL First Division Championship in 2009, Dos Santos said the opportunity to join the Sporting Kansas City organization was one he couldn't pass up.
"I often need time to make an important decision but I must say this was one of the easiest ones to make," Dos Santos said. "It's clear to me that I'm joining a fantastic organization with a great group of people. The vision that the club has with Swope Park Rangers, coupled with the city and the fans in Kansas City, definitely had an impact on my decision. I'm looking forward to starting this project and I'm sure it will be a successful one."
Dos Santos most recently was the head coach of Ottawa Fury FC, with which he spent the past two seasons. Dos Santos was recently named the North American Soccer League's 2015 Coach of the Year after leading the Fury to the NASL Championship Final. In the league's fall season, the Fury posted a record of 13-1-6 and a plus-22 goal differential as they just missed out on the overall regular-season championship.
A native of Overland Park, Kan., Duke was previously a player for Sporting Kansas City, and spent time on loan in the USL with both Orlando City SC, with which he won the USL Championship in 2013, and OKC Energy FC. This past year he signed with Energy FC, and had a standout season that saw him record four assists in 19 appearances for the club, and also help the side reach the Western Conference Final of the 2015 USL Playoffs.
"I'm very excited for the opportunity to come back to this first-class organization to continue my development," Duke said. "Being here for two years before has given me tremendous experience and I know what's expected from the coaching staff and club as a whole. Soccer has grown so much in this city and to add another professional team here will only grow the game. I'm really happy to be a part of that and get playing again in front of the best fans."
Images from this story
 Swope Park Rangers Coach Marc Dos Santos (Ottawa Fury FC) |
United Soccer League Championship Stories from November 20, 2015
- Dos Santos Introduced as Swope Park Rangers' Coach - Sporting Kansas City II
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