Major League Soccer today announced the fourth iteration of its groundbreaking partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF) that will provide 20 experienced MLS youth academy coaches with world-class training through a yearlong youth development course resulting in participants earning their Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL). One of the coaches selected is Atlanta’s U14s coach, Steven Covino, who has been with the club’s academy since its first season. He becomes the academy’s third coach to take part in the program, joining Tony Annan and Matt Lawrey.
The initiative places participants through the same course and training demands the FFF mandates of its domestic coaches but customized for North America’s needs, accelerating Major League Soccer’s collective expertise in player development.