Why Sporting Kansas City’s new academy director is excited about the future

Declan Jogi came to Sporting Kansas City with hopes of being able to coach and teach young players.

Since joining the club in 2015, Jogi has helped with the process of coaching the organization’s U-13 and U-14 teams.

So when long-time Sporting Academy director Jon Parry retired this summer, Jogi hoped it was his turn to take the reins. But the process, the time it took to make the transition, had him questioning whether he’d really get the job.

“Actually I was grateful that (Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes) actually took the long process,” Jogi said, “because I wanted the club to be sure that I was the right person for the job.”

The club officially announced Jogi would become the new academy director on Thursday. Not only will he coach the U-19 academy side, he’ll also help integrate the organization’s general playing philosophy into the development of Vermes’ signature “pro-player pathway.”

“He has a good understanding of the landscape of youth soccer in the United States” Vermes said. “He understands the academy environment really well.

“He knows we have to get better, and then I also think his demeanor, his personality, his character fits really well with the position and where this new evolution of youth academies are moving to.”

Jogi began taking coaching courses while he was playing professionally in his home country of Zimbabwe.

“I have a passion for teaching the game and helping and mentoring young players,” Jogi said. “So when John Parry, my predecessor, mentor, and friend retired, it was natural for me to want to step into the role, having been with the club a long time.

“I know the culture, I know the values, and I think the timing was right for myself and for my family to take the next step and do what we can for the next evolution of the academy in the league.”

That next evolution is going to open up a new world for Sporting KC. On Wednesday The Athletic reported that Major League Soccer is loosening its rules on academy territories.

According to the report, MLS clubs will be allowed to protect up to 54 youth academy players — 45 within their own academy and nine who are playing and living within their natural “homegrown territory.”

Any youth player who is not on the roster of an MLS Academy or a homegrown priority list will be allowed to join any academy without restriction. And teams will not have to compensate each other for their acquisitions.

“With the new rules ... now it gives all clubs more opportunity to find the players that they want,” Jogi said. “There’s a lot of talent out there, and the goal ultimately is to get all the best talent into the MLS academy.”

While the report contains more granular detail and plenty of “inside MLS” lingo, these new stipulations about academy players should help open some doors for Sporting KC. While the Sporting academy territory might be large in terms of geographical boundaries, it doesn’t contain the same population base of a place like Houston, or even North Carolina or Florida.

Sporting’s most successful academy product to date is Gianluca Busio, who came from North Carolina and now plays in Europe.

“What has happened is that expansion has eaten up those territories and we’re not allowed to go in there anymore,” Vermes said. “Those are areas that were hotbeds that we used to go into.

“So the fact that now we actually can go into other MLS territories is going to be paramount for us going forward.”