Matt Pilkington
Matt Pilkington is an English football manager, who is head coach for New York City FC II in MLS Next Pro. Playing career Born in England, Pilkington was part of the academy of Rochdale F.C. as a child. Pilkington studied in the US, featuring for the collegiate teams for George Washington University. After graduation he signed for the Richmond Kickers, then competing in the second tier of the A-League but shortly to transfer to the United Soccer League. Managerial career Before beginning his playing career Pilkington began his transition to coaching, receiving an English FA coaching licence in 1998. In 2005, Pilkington joined the DC United academy set-up, remaining as part of the coaching staff until 2008. Several years later he would return to coaching, joining Bethesda-Olney in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In 2014 he transferred to local New York youth team Downtown United SC, for whom he would act as academy technical director across age groups from under-12 to under-18. Through Downtown United's connection to new MLS side New York City FC he would earn a move to NYCFC's nascent academy structure, starting as u-15/u-16 head coach and working his way up to u-19 head coach. On 9