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Philadelphia Union Academy Announce Technical Staff Changes

September 5, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Philadelphia Union News Release


CHESTER, Pa. - Philadelphia Union Academy today announced 2023 staffing changes within the Union Academy technical staff. As the academy joins Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia Union II in Chester, Pa. ahead of the 2023 season, staffing additions include Head Coach of the newly formed Philadelphia Union Academy U16 team, Guillermo Hamdan Zaragoza, as well as Head of Performance and Development, Efthymios Kyprianou.

Prior to joining the Union, Zaragoza founded and directed the SoccerIQ LLC Coach Education Online Platform, a program focused on developing coaching knowledge and skills worldwide through the internet. Zaragoza also served as the first team head coach for West African Football Academy in the Ghana Premier League, extending his expertise to talent identification, player development, and coaching education across multiple West African nations. With Zaragoza at the helm for their inaugural season, the addition of the U16's brings the total number of academy teams competing in MLS NEXT to five entering the 2023 season. The team's first match is scheduled for September 10th against CSA of Monmouth.

Kyprianou joins the club from Houston Dynamo Academy. Originally from Cyprus, Kyprianou started his career in 2009 as an athletics coach for the Cyprus Athletics Federation. His passion led him to the Cyprus National Team, Aspire Academy in Qatar, and Hatta Club FC in the United Arab Emirates. Previously contributing to the Dynamo Academy as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, Kyprianou was also the Head of Performance at OFI Crete FC in Greece. In 2017 Kyprianou acquired his UEFA A coaching license.

The club would also like to announce the following Academy technical staff hires and promotions: Peter McDonnell, U17 Head Coach; Bradford Jamison IV, U17 Assistant Coach; Dominik Schleintiz, U17 Assistant Coach; Guillermo Hamdan Zaragoza, U16 Head Coach; Andrew Cressman, U12 Head Coach; Darren John, U10 Head Coach; Efthymios Kyprianou, Head of Performance and Development; Kevin Raftery, Academy Athletic Trainer; Oliver Whitham, Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach; Justin Solomon, Academy Video Analyst.

Philadelphia Union Academy Additions and Promotions

Efthymios Kyprianou - Head of Performance and Development

Peter McDonnell - U17 Head Coach

Bradford Jamison IV - U17 Assistant Coach

Dominik Schleintiz - U17 Assistant Coach

Guillermo Hamdan Zaragoza - U16 Head Coach

Andrew Cressman - U12 Head Coach

Darren John - U10 Head Coach

Kevin Raftery - Academy Athletic Trainer

Oliver Whitham - Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach

Justin Solomon - Academy Video Analyst

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