Meet Jason Kreis, the first coach of New York City FC

The former US international forward, who made 14 caps between 1996-2000 for the Yanks, has been named as the very first coach of Major League Soccer's newest franchise, New York City FC, an outfit jointly owned by baseball's New York Yankees and Manchester City.

First manager

Kreis, pictured, quit as coach of Real Salt Lake, three days after the team lost Major League Soccer’s championship game.

Credentials

Kreis, who turns 41 on December 29, played for Salt Lake from 2005 to 2007, then became coach. He led the team to the 2009 MLS Cup championship, becoming the youngest coach to win the title. He also coached the team to finals in the 2010/11 Concacaf Champions League, this year’s US Open Cup and Saturday’s MLS final, where Salt Lake lost to Sporting Kansas City on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie.

Track record

Kreis won 102 of his 239 games in charge of Salt Lake, losing 77. He reached the MLS play-offs in all six seasons. NYCFC, co-owned by the English Premier League side Manchester City and Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, said yesterday that Kreis will start work with the team in January.

Getting to grips

Kreis will spend time in England working with Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini, director of football Txiki Begiristain and reserves manager Patrick Vieira.

European lessons

“The opportunity to develop the first professional club based in New York City was impossible to pass up, as was the chance to immerse myself in the football operations in Manchester, observing some of the leading figures in European football,” Kreis said.

* Associated Press