Men's Soccer Assistant Coaches On Tour With Youth National Teams
5/8/2008 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
May 8, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland men's soccer assistant coaches Russell Payne and Rob Vartughian are both lending their expertise to the United States Youth National teams this spring. Payne is currently on tour with the U-20 National Team in England while Vartughian will travel with the U-15 National Team to Spain.
"I am delighted for Rob and Russell to have this great opportunity to work with our youth national teams," head coach Sasho Cirovski said. "They are two of the most talented young coaches in the country and it is a privilege to have them on my staff."
Payne, currently in his fifth season with the Terps, is serving as the goalkeeper coach for the U-20 team's week-long training camp in Manchester. The squad will play three friendlies on its trip with a 2-0 win against the Bolton Reserves already in the books on May 7.
The National Team will take on the reserves from Manchester United on May 8 before wrapping up with a match against the Liverpool reserves on May 9.
Incoming freshman Matt Kassel, who Cirovski signed in February, is a member of the U-20 team on the trip and saw time in the win against Bolton, coming off the bench in the 46th minute.
Vartughian, entering his sixth season as an assistant under Cirovski, will head with the U-15 Boys National Team to Madrid from May 9-19 to also serve as the goalkeeper coach. The team is scheduled to face youth squads from La Liga's Real Madrid (May 13) and Athletico Madrid (May 14), Rayo Majadahonda (May 16), and Rayo Vallecano (May 18).
