New Faces of VYS

March 30, 2023

Richard Gunney Joins Vienna Youth Soccer

Vienna, VA - Vienna Youth Soccer (VYS) welcomes Richard Gunney to the club as a Head Coach who will also focus on coach education, working with the Technical staff to develop coaches and the program. Coach Gunney brings a vast wealth of experience to the club with over 20 years of coaching.


Richard started his coaching journey with Soccer Academy before becoming Technical Director at Fulham's girl's academy. Here Coach Gunney oversaw the development of talents such as Jamaican international star Drew Spence. After five years with Fulham, Richard became the Head Coach of the Welsh Senior National Futsal team, where he was instrumental in developing leagues, competition, and coaching across Europe in FIFA and UEFA tournaments. 

After his time with the national team, Coach Gunney made his way to the States, where he had a stint with VYS before beginning his work as Assistant Coach with the Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave. He has worked with some of the very best players in the world and was part of a Portland team that won the NWSL Shield, Challenge Cup and Championship.

On the new hire, Kevin James stated: "We spend a lot of time talking about people, processes, and targets. All three are essential, but the people ultimately bring the processes to life and get us closer to hitting our targets. Richard comes in with a wealth of knowledge, but his passion for the game and working with others truly sets him apart. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team." 


Coach Gunney is decorated with a UEFA A Coaching License and UEFA B Instructor License. With a strong connection to the Northern Virginia area, Richard is excited to have a further impact on the development and growth of the club and its players


President Matt Shinkman gave his remarks on the new hire and the state of the club: "Over the past several years, we have seen so much growth both on the field with the introduction of BRAVE and within the community, unveiling new futsal courts at Cunningham Park ES and Cedar Lane school. Coach Gunney’s invaluable experience will surely have an amazing impact on the club and help us continue to provide ‘A Lifetime of Soccer’ for all!”



A LIFETIME of Soccer

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