MONTREAL – CF Montréal announced Monday that Patrick Leduc has accepted a new role within the organization as Director, Soccer Culture and Stakeholder Relations, while Marinos Papageorgopoulos has accepted the role of Academy Director.
In this new role, Leduc will act as the primary resource to the communications and marketing department as it relates to all activities linked to the development and promotion of soccer culture with Club stakeholders. Drawing on his vast soccer knowledge, familiarity with CF Montréal’s culture, his media expertise and passion for the sport, Leduc will report to Samia Chebeir, Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer. He will also continue to work closely with the Academy during the transition.
“It is essential for us to promote soccer culture and continue to reconnect with the community,” said CF Montréal President and CEO Gabriel Gervais. “Patrick Leduc takes on these new responsibilities as the Club enters a new era in MLS with the arrival of Apple. Patrick's dynamism, as well as his knowledge of the soccer world and the Club's culture, will allow him to act as a vector of change in the way our brand will be delivered to our fans. This will also be return to roots for Patrick who has extensive communications experience.”
Marinos Papageorgopoulos will assume the role of Academy Director and will report to Olivier Renard, Vice-President and Chief Sporting Officer.
“Marinos takes over after working closely with Patrick and successfully leading various external projects for the Academy over the past year,” added Gabriel Gervais. His approach, professionalism, and expertise in the world of soccer has not gone unnoticed within the Club since his arrival. We are pleased and excited to see him take on this new challenge.”
Former club player from 2000 to 2011, Leduc reunited with the Impact on December 6, 2018, as Administrative Director of Soccer Operations. He was then named director of the Club's Academy on July 7, 2020. Under his leadership, the Scouting and Development Centre (CIP) network of partner clubs was created and saw four young talents from the Club's Academy sign contracts with the first team. Leduc also has extensive media experience working as a soccer analyst for RDS as well as columnist for the sports section of La Presse and La Presse + from 2011 to 2018.
Papageorgopoulos joined CF Montréal on June 23, 2021, as Development Director of External Programs with the Academy. The 48-year-old Montrealer had previously been the director and assistant head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy since October 25, 2016. Prior to that, he was the technical director of the Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA), beginning in 2014. He was then named head coach of Whitecaps FC Manitoba at the launch of the club's academy centres in 2015. During his stay in Vancouver, Marinos also oversaw the women’s Super REX soccer program.
Before leaving Quebec, he had worked at the grassroots level as co-director of the Laval Regional Soccer Association (ARS), technical director at Club de soccer Chomedey, and coach of the men's U15 and U17 provincial teams.
