BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (April 3, 2019) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that the Club has signed Academy Technical Director Cedric Cattenoy to a three-year contract extension. The 2019 campaign will mark Cattenoy’s fourth season with the Club.
“In just three years, Cedric has provided incredible value to our Club,” said Chicago Fire Soccer Club President and General Manager Nelson Rodrίguez. “Under his direction, we have signed three first-team players developed by our academy and seen 15 different academy players invited to youth national team camps. In addition, he has mentored our coaching staff such that each holds an “A” license, and has successfully implemented our Club curriculum with our various Chicago Fire Juniors affiliate programs. Much like in re-signing Pauno, continuity with Cedric is essential in developing our Club’s playing identity.”
Originally joining the Fire on Oct. 7, 2016, Cattenoy is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the curriculum for the Fire Academy, guiding player and staff development and working closely with the first team staff to ensure continuity from the academy system up to the professional level.
“I’m proud of the progress that our Fire Academy has made over the past three years,” said Cattenoy. “We have implemented a developmental plan that is closely aligned with the first team and is designed to help these talented young men achieve their dream of becoming professional soccer players. I’d like to thank our dedicated coaching staff and players for their commitment to our program.”
During Cattenoy’s first three seasons in Chicago, the Fire Academy has had 15 players called up to youth national teams, launched a pre-academy program for the U8-U11 age groups, increased the retention rate of its staff and players, and launched the Performance, Advisory and Support Services (PASS) program. Additionally, Andre Reyonlds II and Gabriel Slonina, the Fire’s 12th and 13th Homegrown Player signings, recently joined the first team after featuring in the Fire Academy under Cattenoy’s guidance.
On Oct. 21, 2018, the Fire’s U-15 Academy team was crowned champions of the BellSport Cup in Zakopane, Poland, producing an unbeaten 7-0-3 record with 13 goals scored and zero goals conceded in the tournament. The Fire’s U-14 Academy team also advanced to the championship in the 2018 Galway Cup in Ireland, on Aug. 11, 2018.
Prior to joining the Fire, Cattenoy spent 15 seasons (2001-16) with Paris Saint-Germain F.C.’s Academy, serving in various capacities. Cattenoy was tasked with developing the PSG method internationally, training coaches in France and abroad, and overseeing the training programs for the PSG academy teams. Additionally, Cattenoy helped to produce more than 80 professional players while working with PSG’s academy.
He holds UEFA “A” and youth licenses, an executive masters from the National Institution of Sports and Performance Expertise, as well as his goalkeeper coach qualifications. He has also received an Elite Formation Coaching License in France at CNF Clairefontaine. In 2018, Cattenoy obtained his U.S. Soccer Academy Director’s License.
Cattenoy’s Academy staff will also remain with the Club, including Director of PASS Brian Roberts, Staff Coaches Jeff DeGroot, Selim Talbi, Michael Barshai, Ross Brady and Igor Dimov, Athletic Trainer Tyler Golden, Senior Youth Development Operations Coordinator Kevin Isaac and PASS Coordinator Felix Yu.
