After an extensive nationwide search, Richmond United is excited to announce the addition of Daniel Szolosi to the Boys ECNL staff as the U13/U14 Head Coach for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. Szolosi will transition to RVA in June and start integrating into the Richmond soccer community immediately. During his time with the Columbus Crew Academy, Szolosi has worked with former Richmond United players, such as Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Gabe Cox, and Mo Tucker, and he is looking forward to joining the staff in Richmond: “I am very excited to join Richmond United due to its rich history of player development and the role it plays in developing one of the best soccer cultures across the country.  The club’s objective and proven track record of developing high-level players, and even higher-level people speaks to the excellent work the staff is doing, and I look forward to contributing to the project while playing a role in elevating our standards even higher moving forward.”  

Szolosi’s excitement is shared by Richmond United Technical Director, Mika Elovaara: “We had an incredibly competitive pool of applicants for the position, and Daniel came out on top of them all. Having watched him interact with his fellow staff members and coach the players in Columbus first hand, I was impressed with his knowledge, communication skills and character. Daniel will be a tremendous addition to our staff. He will help us forge a more professional culture and developmental environment for players and staff alike, and I can’t wait to have him with us in RVA.”

Part of the United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 class of 2021, Szolosi holds both a United States Soccer Federation B License and a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma. The United Soccer Coaches 30 Under 30 program “is a year-long education and mentorship opportunity for a special group of 15 male and 15 female coaches who are leading the way in developing soccer players and enhancing the game.” At the Columbus Crew Academy, Szolosi has accumulated a wealth of experience in individual player development, preparing opposition scouting reports, designing exercises for high potential players, managing Academy teams and the Columbus Crew’s Pre-Academy program, and running team training sessions across the U13-U19 age groups. Szolosi’s former MLS employer is also looking forward to following his continued journey: “We are excited for this next step in Daniels professional journey.  For the past 2.5 years Daniel has played a key role in assisting the technical staff in leading our player development strategy.  He is a young, ambitious, coach that is eager to learn and will be a huge asset to the Richmond soccer community.   We hope this move continues to strengthen the relationship between the two communities and are excited for what the future has in store,” Columbus Crew MLS Academy Director Kelvin Jones commented.

Further reflecting on the new addition to the RU coaching staff, Elovaara stated: “With our staff, programming, and our full developmental pathway in cooperation with the Kickers pro team, we strive to provide our membership the best possible experience. As we continue to evolve our programming and improve in all areas, having the right people in place is paramount for a truly United club culture. Daniel’s experience in a high level environment, including being on staff at the U17 MLS Next Playoff Final in 2022, will further enhance our staff experience and expertise. During his visit to Richmond in the interview process, he immediately struck a common chord with both our boys’ and girls’ staff, which is crucial in our endeavors to help the young men and women in our club pursue their goals and dreams.”

Echoing Elovaara’s comments, Szolosi added: “Within my role as Head Coach for U13 and U14 Boys ECNL, I am also excited to engage with our parent & partner clubs to reach a new level of integration for the players in greater Richmond and the surrounding areas. I look forward to getting to work in Richmond with Richmond United and getting to meet new people & develop meaningful relationships. So if you see me at the field, please stop me so we can meet or catch up!”

Both Richmond United boys and girls teams are ranked #15 in the nation in the official Elite Club National League rankings. In June of 2023, three girls’ teams and five boys’ teams are competing in the ECNL National Playoffs in San Diego, CA (ECNL Girls) and Greensboro, NC (ECNL Boys). Follow up on the teams via Twitter @RichmondUtd and @richmondunited and Instagram @richmondunited and @richmondunitedecnl_girls.

Photo Credit: Crew Academy