“Preki” Returns to Pitch as Sacramento Professional Soccer Head Coach
Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) July 15, 2013 -- Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC (Sac Pro Soccer), today announced signing Predrag Radosavlijevic, better known as Preki, as head coach for the team’s 2014 inaugural season. Best known for scoring a game-winning goal for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) over world power Brazil in 1998, Preki has more than 15 years of experience as a national and international player.
Preki is one of the most notable U.S. professional soccer players of his generation as he made a total of 28 international appearances for the USMNT. At the club level, he spent time playing for Everton and Portsmouth, both of the English Premier League (EPL). Making his U.S. debut in 1985 with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), Preki was awarded the MISL MVP in 1989. When Major League Soccer (MLS) launched in 1996, Preki began what would become an illustrious career with Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as the Kansas City Wizards. He is the only MLS player to have won the MLS MVP Award and MLS Scoring Champion Award twice. Preki was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005.
“I am very pleased to have been appointed head coach for Sacramento Professional Soccer,” said Radosavlijevic (Preki). “I am excited to build a strong and lasting squad of players that will entertain Sacramento soccer fans and win. My decision to come to Sacramento was easy, as the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by Warren Smith and his team instilled confidence in me that their support will take us forward. With the help of my coaching staff, I will give every opportunity to aspiring and established players from both Sacramento and the national and international soccer community to join our franchise.”
Following retirement from playing, Preki became an assistant under former USMNT coach Bob Bradley with Chivas USA. In 2007, Preki was named head coach of Chivas USA and honored as MLS Coach of the Year. In 2010, Toronto FC hired Preki as head coach and won the 2010 Canadian Championship.
“For Sac Pro Soccer to have appointed a person of Preki’s caliber is indicative of our serious intent to establish the best organization not only in the USL PRO, but looking beyond to the future with MLS,” says Graham Smith, technical director for Sacramento Professional Soccer.
On July 18, 2013, Sac Pro Soccer is partnering with UC Davis Children’s Hospital to bring world-class soccer to Sacramento, CA. Sacramento Soccer Day will feature the Norwich City Football Club of the English Premier League taking on Mexico’s Dorados de Sinaloa in an exhibition match. The first match of the day will feature an exhibition match in which an MLS Reserve Team will face the Sacramento All-Stars, a team including former and future MLS players from the Sacramento Region.
For more information about Sacramento Professional Soccer, visit SacProSoccer.com and signup for the team’s newsletter. Supporters can also “Like” the team on Facebook at Facebook.com/SacProSoccer or follow them on Twitter @SacProSoccer.
About Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC.
United Soccer Leagues announced in December 2012 that it has awarded an expansion USL PRO franchise to Sacramento, California with the team commencing participation in the 2014 season. Warren Smith, founder of Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC, will lead the franchise. Sacramento Professional Soccer, LLC plans to host a series of exhibition matches during 2013 involving domestic and international professional soccer teams. In addition, supporter events, soccer clinics and player appearances will be scheduled leading up to the 2014 inaugural season. For updates, follow the team on Twitter at @SacProSoccer, “Like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/SacProSoccer or visit SacProSoccer.com.
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Walter Michael, Sacramento Professional Soccer, http://insider.sacprosoccer.com/, (530) 781-2261, [email protected]
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