Atlanta’s Concorde Fire join Roma’s US Academy programme

Roma launched its US Academy programme – partnering with elite teams across the United States in January 2015 – and today’s announcement means the club now partners with 11 academies as part of an initiative to find and develop the best young players in America.

Speaking at the time of the US Academy launch in 2015, club president Jim Pallotta said: “Player development in the United States continues to be a top priority for us. We are confident this initiative will be great for the country and club and produce many star players of tomorrow.”

Gregg Blasingame, executive director of Concorde Fire Soccer Club, told asroma.com today: “Concorde Fire is honoured to be associated with AS Roma. We look forward to embracing this partnership and implementing many of AS Roma's best practices and methodology into our programing. Our teams, players, coaches and staff are also looking forward to collaborating with our fellow AS Roma US Academy clubs.”

Alex Zecca, who manages Roma’s US Academy programme, added: “I would like to welcome Concorde Fire to the AS Roma US Academy family. They exemplify, as does our entire group, the high standard we look for and are accustomed to in the world of youth soccer development - on and off the pitch. We look forward to developing exceptional soccer talents together with Concorde.”

For more information about AS Roma’s US Academy, click here.