In preparation for the world’s largest annual gathering of soccer coaches and administrators, Major League Soccer continues its commitment to coaching education by today announcing – in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches – a featured slate of MLS-led programming for the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place West in Chicago from Jan. 9-13. The annual event will be highlighted by the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on Friday, Jan. 11 at 12 p.m. CT.
As part of the United Soccer Coaches Convention, MLS and Chicago Fire together will host the Coaches Lounge outside of the Skyline Ballroom on the third floor of McCormick Place West. Convention attendees are welcomed to stop by the Coaches Lounge throughout the week for access to charging and work stations, informal meeting spaces and lounge seating, FIFA gaming, an interactive photo booth, giveaways, and more.
Headlining the featured MLS programming will be an exclusive, 1-on-1 spotlight session with MLS Cup-winning manager and technical director Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City. Vermes, who remains the only person ever to win MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team, has created a proven model of vertical integration from academy development to first team production. He is also among the top candidates for MLS Sporting Executive of the Year.
Hometown hosts the Chicago Fire will present three sessions, including “How we built a game model at the Chicago Fire Soccer Academy,” which will be led by the club’s academy technical director Cedric Cattenoy. Cattenoy moved to MLS from legendary club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. of France’s Ligue 1, and he has received an Elite Formation Coaching License as part of the groundbreaking MLS partnership between MLS and the French Football Federation.
Among other notable MLS sessions will be a roundtable on “Utilizing Performance Technology in Varying Environments,” which will be presented by Philadelphia Union Athletic Development Coach James Wagenschutz.
In addition to these impactful sessions, MLS SuperDraft 2019 presented by adidas on Jan. 11 at 12 p.m. CT will again invite convention attendees to watch the proceedings of the first two rounds live from the draft room, as college seniors, Generation adidas players and Youth Internationals hope to be selected by one of the 24 MLS clubs ahead of the 2019 season.
Fans can watch live coverage of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on MLSsoccer.com, and on MLS social media platforms (YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook) for exclusive first interviews with draft picks, and expert analysis from MLSsoccer.com personalities.
