France: French Federation and MLS renew partnership to train and certify MLS youth coaches

The FFF and MLS have renewed their strategic partnership for the youth coaches of MLS franchises to receive training and certification from FFF technical staff, the two parties announced on 10/09/2015. The second group of 20 MLS youth coaches will conclude their training and certification process with the FFF in June 2016.

"The fact that we are starting the second cycle of this programme should be evidence for its success. The MLS youth coaches in the first cycle were amazed at the quality of the instruction, and this grand experiment has turned into a great success for our league," stated Todd Durbin, the executive director of MLS.

The partnership between the FFF and MLS was launched in 2013, with 21 MLS youth coaches completing the training programme in June 2014. "The North American coaches follow the exact same curriculum as their French counterparts, who pass the Brevet d'Entraineur Formateur de Football (French youth training certification)," stated François Blaquart, the FFF technical director.

• "This programme is both rewarding and flattering in the best sense, for our…