HERRIMAN, Utah (Monday, January 30, 2023) - Andrew May, head coach of Real Salt Lake’s U-17 Academy squad, has been selected to participate in the Elite Formation Coaching License program (EFCL) in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF).
“I’m honored to represent Real Salt Lake and really excited to be a part of this, the FFF is well known for this prestigious program,” said May. “It is a priceless opportunity. As coaches, we should always pursue new ways to look at the game. There’s no definitive right way or wrong way, but to be exposed to different philosophies and concepts to see what sticks with you. It’s just an incredible opportunity.”
The EFCL program spans an 18-month period and is designed to allow coaches to be immersed into many top European Clubs, as well as their respective development programs. These clubs compete at the highest level of European football and include Arsenal (England), AS Monaco (France), FC Nantes (France), and TSG Hoffenheim (Germany). As well as being able to observe the academies of participating teams, coaches from Major League Soccer clubs and their affiliates will undergo candidate evaluation and coaching instruction in regional clinics.
MLS has nominated 25 individuals from the MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro level to participate in this year's program. The program first began in 2013 and May is set to be a part of the fifth generation of coaches from the MLS system to take part in the EFCL. This program has been crucial to the development of MLS Homegrown players and the growth of American soccer at the youth level.
"With the growth of MLS over the last five, 10, 20 years, and the proliferation we have seen in analytics and sports science, simultaneously with the investment in academies, our game has seen exponential growth at literally every level," said May. "The game is more demanding in transition, complex situations are being experienced at younger levels, and players are infinitely more tactically-savvy at younger ages each and every academy class it seems. The Elite Formation License and the FFF course are critical in our pursuit of continuing education to grow the game at all levels, for all players, staffs and organizations.”
May first began his professional coaching career with the now defunct USA Chivas, where he worked with their youth program at all levels. From there May took his knowledge to the LA Galaxy helping the team develop a generation of professional talent that competes at the highest levels of soccer in Europe and America, with graduates including Alex Alvarado (FC Vizela, Portugal), Efrain Alvarez (LA Galaxy), Mauricio Cuevas (Club Brugge, Belgium), Alex Mendez (FC Vizela, Portugal), Johnny Perez (LA Galaxy) and Kobe Hernandez Foster (HamKam, Norway).
After his stint with the Galaxy, May brought his coaching talents to Real Salt Lake in 2021 serving as the head coach of the U-15 Academy team. Within his first two years as a coach he led the team to back-to-back appearances in the MLS NEXT Cup Final, winning the championship in 2021. Due to the success he experienced at the U-15 level he took the job of head coach for the club’s U-17 side for the 2023 season.
