Wynalda Introduces Technical Staff

Published on January 21, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release


Atlanta, Ga. (January 21, 2014) - Silverbacks Technical Director Eric Wynalda introduced his team of assistants on Tuesday, revealing a staff of four coaches that will fill various technical roles for the club this upcoming season.

Ricardo Montoya, Alejandro Pombo, Juan Castellanos and Eduardo "Lalo" Liza were named as Silverbacks assistants for the upcoming season, and all of them are familiar faces in the Atlanta soccer community.

"Communication is vital when it comes to a coaching staff, and keeping the message consistent is more important than anything," said Silverbacks Technical Director Eric Wynalda. "With this technical staff that we've put together, I believe every player in the organization will know exactly what they're doing at all times - from the first team to the substitutes to the reserve team. I'm really excited about this group of assistants."

Montoya, longtime head coach of the Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves, will serve as Wynalda's first assistant while still maintaining his duties at the helm of the Reserves, who will compete in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2014. The Costa Rican has had a close relationship with Wynalda ever since the U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer joined the club in 2012. Montoya, who particularly excels at putting together opponent-specific game plans and tactics, will work closely with Wynalda to lead early-week training sessions.

"Ricardo has been with the Silverbacks long enough for me to see how hard he works and understand how valuable he is to our organization," Wynalda said. "From both a coaching and scouting standpoint, Ricardo is the perfect assistant. It's a great comfort to know that if we have a player on the Reserves that deserves a chance on the first team, that player's transition will be seamless."

Montoya will be joined by a pair of assistants, Pombo and Castellanos, who have worked extensively with the Silverbacks organization in recent years. Pombo, a native of Montevideo, Uruguay, played professionally in his home country as well as Brazil from 1985-1993. The 43-year-old has spent several seasons as an assistant coach for the Reserves, and also briefly served on Wynalda's first team staff in 2012.

Hailing from Bogota, Colombia, Castellanos specializes in strength and conditioning. The 31-year-old fitness coach represented his native country at the youth level before going on to a successful collegiate career at Gordon College and Brewton Parker College. Castellanos has handled strength and conditioning for Montoya and the Reserves since 2009.

Liza joins the technical staff fresh off finishing his playing career. The Lima, Peru native spent last season with the Silverbacks, adding to the professional experience he gained as a member of Sporting Cristal in his home country. A former U-18 Peruvian international, Liza was a member of Georgia Perimeter College's national championship-winning team in 2005 before ending his collegiate playing career at Georgia State University.

"Both Alejandro and Lalo have exemplified the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm any time I've worked with them. They will be vital components to our team and its success," Wynalda said. "Juan has been and continues to be fantastic as far as the preparation, maintenance, and performance of my players goes. Injury prevention is probably one of the areas of a coach's job that sometimes gets overlooked, and Juan will be vital for us in that respect."

Under Wynalda's system, each assistant will specialize in various technical areas, helping manage the team's early-week recovery and conditioning while Wynalda fulfills his duties at Fox Sports 1. Each week, Wynalda will then fly to Atlanta to lead the team's tactical and technical training sessions on Thursday and Friday.

With Montoya and his Reserves coaches serving as a part of the first team staff as well, the organization will be able to employ Wynalda's system and style of play at both levels, NASL and NPSL. The club believes the consistent playing model will help further their player development, an area the club has excelled at in recent years.

Between the first team and the Reserves, the Silverbacks organization has managed to send several players to Major League Soccer (MLS) in recent years. Chris Klute, who now plays for the Colorado Rapids, is a glowing example of the Silverbacks' commitment to player development. Discovered by Montoya, Klute sharpened his game in Atlanta before moving on to MLS and ultimately receiving an invite to this month's U.S. Men's National Team camp.

Under the guidance of Wynalda and his team of assistants, the Silverbacks will begin preseason training in late February before opening up the 2014 NASL Spring Season on April 12 against the New York Cosmos. Tickets for the 2014 season are on sale now, and can be purchased through the Silverbacks Ticket Office at 404-969-4900.

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