MONTREAL – CF Montréal announced on Friday its Academy’s technical staff for the 2022 season.
In a spirit of continued collaboration between Bologna and Montreal to further leverage synergies between the two clubs and improve youth player development, Francesco Morara, assistant coach to the first team, will now also be assuming an intermediary role between the reserve and senior teams, in addition to his role as technical supervisor with the other Academy educators. Prior to his appointment with Montreal last September, Morara was head coach of Bologna FC’s U15 team.
Nicolas Gagnon has been appointed head coach of the U23 reserve team ahead of the group’s first season in the Première ligue de soccer du Québec (PLSQ). Originally from Saint-Hyacinthe and previously a program educator with the regional associations of Richelieu-Yamaska, Rive-Sud and Estrie, Gagnon has been with the Academy’s technical staff since 2011 and was previously a coach with the U17 team within CF Montréal’s development structure.
Gagnon will be accompanied by Eduardo Sebrango who will assume the role of assistant coach and specialized trainer (individual training).
“The Academy is privileged to count on a highly qualified technical staff motivated by the challenge of developing local talent to contribute to CF Montréal’s success,” said CF Montréal Academy Director Patrick Leduc. “It is with great enthusiasm that we make today’s announcements. The Academy has proven since its inception that it can provide the Club with its next generation of players and coaches. The young core of this reserve team will benefit from an experienced coaching staff and a direct link to the first team’s technical staff.”
Changes to the Academy’s other teams
Maxime Leconte has been appointed head coach of the U17 team, while Félix Brillant will stay on as an assistant coach in addition to taking on a new role as Senior Educator of the Club’s Scouting and Development Centre (CIP).
Esteban Landazabal has been promoted to head coach of the U15 team, while the assistant coach position is yet to be confirmed.
Luca Leone, Pierre Bezy and Simon Gatti remain respectively Goalkeeper coach, Physical trainer and Head of recruitment for the Academy.
Patrice Bernier will now be involved in the Academy's external development programs which are overseen by Marinos Papageorgopoulos. Bernier’s mandate will be focused primarily on CIP partner clubs. He previously held the position of Post-Training Supervisor with the Academy's U23 team.
