Goalkeeper Coach

Andrew Sparkes enters his third year as the New York Red Bulls Academy Full-Time Goalkeeper coach. Previous to joining the Academy staff, Sparkes headed up the Red Bulls pre-academy goalkeeper program (RDS) 2006-2008. 

In 2011 Andrew will be leaving for Red Bull New Yorks sister club FC Salzburg in Austria.

During the 2009 season, Red Bulls Goalkeeper Keith Cardona was invited to join the prestigious USMNT U17 Residency program in Bradenton, FL. Cardona recently graduated Residency after U17 FIFA World Cup in Nigeria.
January 2010, saw another Red Bulls goalkeeper, Santiago Castano invited to Residency after impressing at u15 National team camps.
During 2010, 6 Red Bulls Goalkeepers were invited into US National Teams - more than any other club in the US.

• Keith Cardona
• Santiago Castano
• Evan Louro
• Alek Gogic
• Nicky Prithard
• Gianni Carrilo

Andrew holds the top two goalkeeping licenses in the United States; the USSF National Goalkeeper License and the NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma, as well as his UEFA "B" Goalkeeper License. Sparkes has also served as the Super Y National ODP Goalkeeper coach for the last two years and has recently been added as a National Goalkeeper Instructor for the NSCAA.

As a player, the Wales native played for his hometown club, Swansea City, at the youth and reserve team level and also represented his country as various youth levels before moving into the coaching ranks at the Swans, overseeing the goalkeepers in the youth academy.  He also played in the Welsh League for Neath AFC. Sparkes has also trained with Red Bulls First Team over the last few seasons

Email: andrew.sparkes@newyorkredbulls.com