February 23, 2022...York United FC Confirms Coaching and Performance Staff Ahead of New Season (from York United FC website)

February 23, 2022...York United FC Confirms Coaching and Performance Staff Ahead of New Season
(from York United FC website)

YORK UNITED FC CONFIRMS COACHING AND PERFORMANCE STAFF AHEAD OF NEW SEASON

Former Dundee FC boss Barry Smith arrives as Assistant Coach, along with Mauro Eustáquio.

York United FC is delighted to announce its Coaching and Performance staff for the 2022 season.

A number of new faces join the backroom team, though there's plenty of familiarity too.

Barry Smith arrives as Assistant Coach to Martin Nash, along with Mauro Eustáquio.

Smith, a native of Paisley in Scotland, was a highly-regarded player who made his professional debut
for Celtic FC as a 17-year-old in 1991. He remained at the iconic club until 1995 when he signed
for Dundee FC. He stayed at Dens Park for over 10 years, becoming captain of the side
and developing into one of the standout servants the team has ever seen. He was a key part
of the group that won the Scottish First Division title in 1998 while in 2003, Dundee made
it all the way to the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park where they narrowly lost out
to Rangers FC. However, qualification for the UEFA Cup followed (the club's first time in the
competition since the mid-1970s) and Smith memorably captained the team for all four European ties.
Later, following a move to Icelandic outfit Valur, Smith picked up a league title there too.

Smith began his coaching career in 2008, returning to Dundee to take over their youth side.
But just two years later, he was appointed manager of the club during a traumatic time. Having entered
administration in November, Dundee received a 25-point deduction, leaving them bottom
of the First Division table. Despite this, Smith performed miracles and they finished the season
in mid-table. More was to follow and in 2012, the club was promoted to the top-flight: their first
time back there since 2005. Since leaving Dens Park in 2013, Smith has spent time with a number
of other Scottish clubs, enjoying particular success with Alloa Athletic and Raith Rovers.

"I am delighted to be given the opportunity to join such a progressive club in York United," Smith says.

"As assistant coach, I look forward to working closely with Martin, the technical staff
and our special squad to help make this a successful season for all of us."

Mauro Eustáquio spent his formative playing years in his native Portugal but is perhaps best-known
for his time with the Ottawa Fury, who he signed for in late-2013. By that stage Eustáquio,
who moved to Canada as an infant, had already represented his adopted country at underage level
and blossomed in the capital. He was an integral part of the side that won the NASL Fall Championship
in 2015 and that was pipped to the title by a New York Cosmos team that boasted Spanish stars
Raul and Marcos Senna.

It was in Ottawa where Eustáquio first met Martin Nash and the pair were reunited in 2019 when
the midfielder signed for Cavalry FC's inaugural Canadian Premier League campaign. After a stint
with Portuguese side Caldas FC in 2020, Eustáquio announced his retirement from playing the following
year and immediately began to concentrate on a transition to coaching. In April 2021, he was announced
as the Development Phase Boys Manager with USL2 side Calgary Foothills, working with players
from U-8 right through to U-18.

"I’m excited for this opportunity and especially to be able to work - once again - with Martin Nash,"
Eustáquio says.

"We have a talented group here who are hungry for success and all together we will work hard
to achieve our goals."

Also arriving at York United for the new season is Michael Higbee, who will oversee the club's
Sports Science and S+C Department.

Having attained his undergraduate degree at the UK's deeply-respected Loughborough University, Higbee
then earned a Master's degree in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Edinburgh.
He's served as Academy S+C Coach for EFL Championship side Birmingham City while he was most recently
the Lead Academy Sport Scientist at another EFL Championship club, Swansea City.

"I'm immensely excited to be joining the York United project," Higbee says.

"Getting to play such a crucial role and being involved in the development and future successes
of the club is a genuine thrill. I'm looking forward to collaborating with the technical staff
and working with such an impressive group of players."

Camilo Benzi, who has served the club so well since its inception, will continue in his role
as Assistant Coach (GK). A well-known and deeply-respected figure within the game, Camilo has overseen
the development of a thoroughly impressive goalkeeping setup within the organization and is back for
his fourth campaign with The Nine Stripes.

"This club means a great deal to me and I'm so happy to come onboard for another campaign," he says.

"It's a very special group of players and I'm excited what we can all achieve together. It's been
a pleasure working closely with Martin [Nash] over the last few weeks of pre-season camp and I know
the new arrivals will add so much to the entire coaching and performance blueprint here. It's going
to be a special year."

Elsewhere, Cesar Cruz has also joined the club as Athletic Therapist while Alex Bizzarri has been
promoted to the position of Director of Football Operations.

"I’m delighted to confirm our 2022 Coaching and Performance staff," says York United CEO/President
& GM Angus McNab.

"I feel we have assembled a fantastic group that will get the very best from our players and will
work well with Martin also. Barry has coached at the highest levels of Scottish football and his
experience as a Head Coach will be valuable for Martin too. Mauro is well-respected as an up-and-coming
Canadian coach and he obviously knows both the league and Martin very well. Camilo has done a great
job with our goalkeepers over the first three CPL seasons and I'm delighted he’s back."

"Michael is a great capture for the club. His experience at Swansea - both in the club's academy
and also recently with the 1st team squad - will be vital in ensuring we support players properly
and get them to fully realize their potential."

"Cesar has been great in his first few weeks with the boys. Additionally, his ability to speak Spanish
has helped some of the new arrivals settle instantly. It’s such an advantage to break down that
language barrier early on, and being able to count on both Mauro and Camilo too is a huge help."

"Finally, Alex deserves his promotion to Director of Football Operations. He’s been the heartbeat
of the club for the last couple of years and the players deeply value the efforts he puts in for them."

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