Atlanta United is replacing its Academy Director position with a newly created role of Director of Methodology, and announced on Monday that it has hired Javier Perez to fill that job.
Matt Lawrey, formerly the Academy Director since 2021, will move to an on-field role focusing on individual development.
Perez, as Director of Methodology, will over see the development of Atlanta United’s academy and 2s players. Perez will report to Vice President Carlos Bocanegra. The Academy has Under-13, U14, U15, U17 and U19 teams.
“I’m thrilled to join Atlanta United, which has established itself in a short amount of time as a club with a robust academy operation and is capable of developing young talent into professionals,” Perez said in a statement provided by the club. “I’m eager to work in tandem with Carlos and the talented staff within the Academy and ATLUTD 2 to continue building on the momentum and success they’ve created in the club’s first eight years.”
Perez’ experience includes serving as an assistant coach and then interim head coach at Toronto in 2021, as an assistant coach at NYCFC from 2016-20, and as an assistant with the U.S. men’s national team from 2012-16. He also coached the U.S. U18s and was an assistant on the U20s.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Javier to Atlanta United,” Bocanegra said in a statement from the club. “As our Academy evolves, we continue to enhance all facets of our player pathway and Javier’s years of high-level experience in youth development and within MLS will prove invaluable.”
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
July 26 vs. D.C. United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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