Seattle United

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Alan McDonnell has over 30 years of experience playing and coaching in several levels of soccer, earning numerous coaching honors and qualifications throughout his career. A two-time National Championship head coach in Ireland, Alan will serve Seattle United in the 2011/2012 year as a Staff Coach and Zone Director for Boys and Girls aged U15 through U18.

Alan provides Seattle United with a wealth of knowledge to pass on to its players, and the club will utilize his experience in a leadership role as a staff coach. Holding several coaching licenses and certifications in health and fitness, Alan has spent considerable time at the forefront of soccer education.  

Notably, Alan has completed his Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) “B” license, and he is currently awaiting his UEFA “A” license for approval, which is one of highest levels of coaching qualifications worldwide.

Alan has had the honor of coaching his country at the amateur level, where he led the Ireland Representative Team as head coach for its annual match against Scotland on three separate occasions, winning in 2006, and finishing as runners up in 2004 and 2007. 

At the University level, Alan was head coach of University College Dublin Women’s Team for the 2007/2008 year. Taking over a successful program that had qualified for the women’s UEFA League on two occasions, Alan continued the team’s success as he led the school to the Senior Ladies Cup Championship during his season in charge. 

As head coach of Wayside Celtic FC Senior Men’s Team, Alan won a handful of titles during his seven years with the club. In 2003, the team finished runners up in the Metro Cup, before going on to be crowned as league champions of the highly competitive Senior Division. Alan’s time with Celtic culminated in 2 National Championships, leading the team to victory in the FAI Intermediate Cup in the 2001 and 2004 seasons.   

Alan has a playing career that has spanned 20 years, where he played at several highly competitive youth and senior levels in Ireland. The highlight of his career was being captain of Dalkey United when the team won the Liam Dodd Cup in 1997, and where Alan was handed the Cup by former Manchester United defender and Irish International legend, Paul McGrath. 

Coming to Seattle in 2007, 2008 & 2010 while on vacation Alan ran his own soccer camps in Renton, Washington for some local clubs before signing on with Seattle United for the club’s inaugural year in 2010/2011. Alan coached Seattle United’s B95 Tango, G96 Tango, and B98 West White teams last season, leading the Citywide teams to a top 3 finish in their respective leagues. 

In addition to his role as a club director serving the older ages, Alan will also be the head coach of the B95 Copa and B94 Copa teams for the 2011/2012 season.

Qualifications/Education:

• UEFA “A” License (Almost complete)
• UEFA “B” License
• National Training Centre Certificate, Performance Analysis and Planning for the Main Event
• National Training Centre Certificate, Development of Speed & Power
• FAI, Goalkeeping Introductory Award
• FAI, Level One in Senior Coaching,
• FAI, Introduction to Coaching in Senior Coaching

Coaching Experience:

• 2010/2011 Head Coach, Seattle United B95 Tango
• 2010/2011 Head Coach, Seattle United G96 Tango
• 2010/2011 Head Coach, Seattle United B98 West White
• 2009/2010 Head Coach, Liffeys Pearse Senior Men’s Team
• 2008/2009 Head Coach, Bohemians F.C. U14s Boys
• 2007/2008 Head Coach, University College Dublin Women’s Team
• 2007/2008 Head Coach, Cascade S.C. & Velocity F.C. Summer Camps
• 2007 Head Coach, Ireland v Scotland Representative Team
• 2006 Head Coach, Ireland v Scotland Representative Team
• 2004 Head Coach, Ireland v Scotland Representative Team
• 2000 to 2007 Head Coach, Wayside Celtic Senior Men’s Team

Coaching Honors:

• 2009 Senior 1 Division League Champions, Liffeys Pearse Senior Men’s Team
• 2008 DDSL League Champions, Bohemians F.C. U14s Boys
• 2007 Senior Ladies Cup Winners, University College Dublin Women’s Team
• 2007 Runners Up Ireland v Scotland Representative Team
• 2006 Winners, Ireland v Scotland Representative Team
• 2005 Senior Division League Champions, Wayside Celtic Senior Men’s Team –
• 2004 FAI Intermediate Cup Winners (National Championship) Wayside Celtic Senior Men’s Team
• 2004 Runners Up, Ireland v Scotland Representative Team
• 2003 Metro Cup Runners Up, Wayside Celtic Senior Men’s Team
• 2003 Senior Division League Champions, Wayside Celtic Senior Men’s Team
• 2001 FAI Intermediate Cup Winners (National Championship) Wayside Celtic Senior Men’s Team

Playing Experience:

• 1999-2002 Wayside Celtic
• 1997-1999 Duniden Rovers
• 1994-1997 Dalkey United
• 1990-1994 St Josephs Glasthule

Playing Honors:

• 1996-1997 Liam Dodd Cup Winners, Dalkey United

Email Alan