Bangor graduate has landed a job with the New York Red Bulls

Ioan Llewelyn, 31, from Llanfairpwll in Anglesey, who graduated from the School of Sport, Health, & Exercise Sciences at Bangor University, was recently selected from hundreds of applicants to join the New York Red Bulls' successful Academy structure. 

The former Bangor City assistant manager and head of youth development, is one of a handful of coaches who were selected from all over Britain following two separate interviews at England's National Sports Centre.

"It's a bit of a step into the unknown," Llewelyn told BBC Sport "But it's a chance to work with a professional club and a chance to get some more coaching experience."
He added: "I'll be working with around 100 kids, boys and girls. I'll have two other qualified coaches with me and we'll be following a set coaching structure. It's all designed to ensure there's a natural progression from the academy into the Bulls first team."

James Hardy, Deputy Head at the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, said: "It is always great see our students excel but its particularly pleasing to see a local lad like Ioan have this fantastic opportunity.

“He completed his undergraduate and Masters degrees with us and during that time his passion for coaching and bringing on talent was obvious.

“No doubt he's putting into practice principles he learned while studying here, but this is his hard earned achievement. I'm delighted for him!"

The New York Red Bulls are a professional American Soccer team and are team based in Harrison, New Jersey. They compete in America's Major League Soccer and one of their most well known players is Thierry Henry.

Publication date: 28 March 2012