Following the departure of Richard Money, who is leaving the club to return to England, Atlanta United announced Wednesday that academy manager Tony Annan (pictured above) has been promoted to the position of academy director for the MLS expansion club.
Money, who helped launch Atlanta's academy program in April 2015, is leaving to accept a position of academy director for Norwich City, saying in a team statement, "After careful consideration, returning to the UK is the best decision for my family at this time.''
Annan, a 20-year veteran of youth development in the Atlanta market, has worked alongside Money in establishing the Atlanta United Academy, a program that has so far sent 13 youth players to national teams and currently has four players currently in the U-17 US national team residency program. Annan, who recently passed both the US Soccer Academy Director's course and the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL), making him one of just six coaches to hold both licenses.
"We truly appreciate Richard's dedication in starting our academy program off on such strong footing and are pleased that Tony will continue to build on that foundation,'' Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra said. "Having worked alongside Richard from the beginning, and with his extensive youth development and coaching experience, Tony is a natural fit for the Director role. The Atlanta United Academy will continue to grow as the premier youth development program in MLS under his leadership.''
