Philadelphia Union to appoint Aleck Eskandarian as Director of Youth Programs

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Philadelphia Union are set to name former MLS player Aleck Eskandarian as the team's Director of Youth Academy Programs, according to Philly Soccer News.

Eskandarian retired in 2010 after 7 years in MLS, due to a concussion that he suffered against AC Milan in a friendly, while playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The former Gatorade National High School Player of the Year (at Bergen Catholic in Northern New Jersey) was drafted by DC United in the SuperDraft in 2003 as the first overall selection, after being named the best soccer player in the county in his final year at the University of Virginia. The 28-year-old would go on to score 30 goals over his MLS career, playing with United, Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA and the Galaxy.

Most recently Eskandarian has been a coach at Virginia, where he returned in 2010 to complete his bachelor's degree.