FC Cincinnati have hired four first-team assistant coaches to add to Head Coach Pat Noonan’s staff in 2022 with the Orange and Blue, the club announced today.
Dominic Kinnear and Kenny Arena have been named assistant coaches. Kinnear is a veteran coach with over 20 years of American soccer coaching experience who has won MLS Cup four times, and Kenny Arena is a former LAFC, LA Galaxy and USMNT assistant who with 15 years of coaching experience.
Paul Rogers has been named Director of Goalkeeping, coming to the Queen City after seven seasons with Houston Dynamo FC. Additionally, Ricardo Páez has been named Assistant/Development Coach after serving with the club’s interim coaching staff last season.
“It’s an honor to welcome Dominic, Kenny, Paul and Ricardo to FC Cincinnati,” said FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright. “We focused on assembling an assistant coaching staff with experience in winning environments, both in MLS and beyond. While their respective experiences have differed, they all have had tremendous success throughout their careers. We’re thrilled to have them join us here in Cincinnati.”
The four coaches will join Pat Noonan, who was named the club’s head coach last month, and round out the technical staff ahead of the 2022 MLS season.
“I’m thrilled to have Dominic, Kenny, Paul and Ricardo joining us at FC Cincinnati,” said Noonan. “Their knowledge and experience in MLS will be invaluable our team, and I look forward to working with them.”
ABOUT THE STAFF
Dominic Kinnear – Dominic Kinnear joins FC Cincinnati as an Assistant Coach. He spent 2017-20 with LA Galaxy, serving both as an assistant and as Interim Head Coach. Prior to joining the Galaxy, the Glasgow, Scotland native coached in two stints with the San Jose Earthquakes, from 2014-17 and from 2001-05.
As an assistant with the Earthquakes from 2001-03, Kinnear and the Quakes won MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003. As Head Coach in 2005, Kinnear won the Supporters’ Shield.
In 2006, Kinnear moved to Houston when the Earthquakes were relocated to Texas and named the Houston Dynamo. The expansion side won back-to-back MLS Cups under Kinnear’s leadership in 2006 and 2007, reached the MLS Cup final twice (2011 and 2012), and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals twice (2006 and 2009).
As a player, Kinnear made 243 professional appearances as a defender, playing in Scotland, Mexico, and across the United States. Internationally, he earned 54 caps for the United States Men’s National Team, scoring nine goals and winning the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Kenny Arena – Kenny Arena joins FC Cincinnati as an Assistant Coach. He joins the Orange and Blue after four seasons as an assistant with Los Angeles FC. He joined LAFC in 2018 after one year as an assistant with the USMNT, coached by his father Bruce Arena.
He began his professional coaching career in 2014 with the LA Galaxy as an assistant under Bruce, where the Galaxy won an MLS Cup in his first season as an assistant. Prior to joining the coaching ranks in MLS, Arena was an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level with the Virginia Cavaliers, the George Mason Patriots, and the UCLA Bruins.
The Charlottesville, Virginia native played college soccer at UVA from 1999-2002. In that time, he also played for the United States U-20 Men’s National Team, including at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He was selected in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars, where he played for two seasons before playing his final season of soccer with D.C United in 2005.
Paul Rogers – Paul Rogers joins the coaching staff as the Director of Goalkeeping. He spent the past seven seasons with Houston Dynamo FC in the same role, having served under five different head coaches. He took part in the club’s 2018 U.S. Open Cup title run when the club shutout Philadelphia Union 3-0 in the final, and in Houston’s run to the 2017 Western Conference Finals and the 2019 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.
Before his time in Houston, the Brighton, England native spent six seasons with the U.S. Women’s National Team as the goalkeeper coach and helped lead the USWNT to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. Prior to joining the national team, he also assisted as the goalkeeper coach with the Canada Women’s National Team, St. Louis Athletica of Women’s Professional Soccer in 2009 and 2010, and collegiately with Florida State University, the University of Louisville and Tulane University.
Rogers’ playing career began at the youth level with Queens Park Rangers FC and then in college at the University of South Florida. as well as senior playing experience with Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
Ricardo Páez – Ricardo Páez joins the coaching staff as an Assistant/Development Coach. Páez served as an assistant on FC Cincinnati’s interim coaching staff to close the 2021 season. He joined the FC Cincinnati Academy coaching staff in July 2019, and he served as head coach of the Orange and Blue’s U-17 squad until stepping in with the first team.
Prior to joining the FC Cincinnati Academy coaching staff, he coached in the Orlando City SC and Monteverde Academy (Fla.) organizations, as well as a stint as Head Coach of Miami United FC of the National Premier Soccer League in 2016.
In his playing career, the Venezuelan international earned 64 caps for his country, scoring six international goals including at the 2007 Copa América. He played professionally for nearly 20 years across Europe, South America and Mexico.
Check out FC Cincinnati's 2022 schedule HERE. 2022's home schedule begins at TQL Stadium when the club hosts D.C. United in the home opener on March 5. Tickets are currently available through Season Ticket Memberships. Fans can get the best tickets at the best price to the best matches all season long, including the home opener, by purchasing season tickets at fccincinnati.com/tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK, that’s 513-977-5425.
Fans can now purchase half-season ticket packages, starting at just $170. The “Orange” pack contains nine matches, including the Hell is Real match vs. the Columbus Crew. The “Blue” pack contains eight matches, including the home opener vs. D.C. United. To receive more information on half-season ticket packages, fill out the interest form at fccincinnati.com/tickets/2022-ticket-interest.
FC Cincinnati begin their fourth season of MLS competition in 2022, and their second playing at TQL Stadium. For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team’s official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.
