KAMPALA – Former Uganda Cranes’ skipper, Ibrahim Sekagya has been elevated at the New York Red Bulls II’s side as Head Coach ahead of the inaugural MLS Next Pro season, the club announced on Monday.
Sekagya will be the third Head Coach in Red Bulls II history after spending eight seasons as an Assistant Coach. The Bull II team is the reserve side of the New York Red Bulls – featuring in the Major League Soccer’s Next Pro – the third tier in the US soccer pyramid.
MLS Next Pro is a men’s professional soccer league in the US and Canada – affiliated with Major League Soccer.
“Ibrahim (Sekagya) has played a crucial role in the development of Red Bulls II in addition to his success as a player with the main club,” noted Sporting Director, Denis Hamlett.
“We know he will continue his hard work and dedication to improve in every facet of the club.”
Following his retirement as a player in 2015, Sekagya joined the Red Bulls II coaching staff for its inaugural season in USL that same year. After seven and a half seasons as an Assistant Coach, he was named the Interim Head Coach on July 3, 2022, and guided the team for the final 17 matches of the season.
With Sekagya on the staff, Red Bulls II has seen 21 players go on to sign MLS contracts with the New York Red Bulls. Two, Tyler Adams and Aaron Long, were part of the United States Men’s National Team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He has also spent time assisting in first team training sessions and continues to work with players on the team.
During his eight seasons with the club, Red Bulls II won 98 matches, qualified for the postseason five times, and won both the 2016 USL Cup and Regular Season Title.
“I am thrilled to continue my journey with the New York Red Bulls organisation and lead New York Red Bulls II to success,” Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya said. “I cannot wait to get this season started and show all of the work that has been done this winter to put a well-balanced squad on the pitch.”
As a player, Sekagya joined Red Bull Salzburg in 2007 after playing in both Uganda and Argentina. During his time in Salzburg, he helped win three Austrian Football Bundesliga titles over a four-year span from 2008 to 2012 and was also part of the team that won the 2012 Austrian Cup. He joined the New York Red Bulls in July of 2013 and spent two seasons with the club.
Sekagya was part of the 2013 Red Bulls team that clinched the club’s first-ever Supporters’ Shield.
With a career that spanned over two decades, available statistics indicate that Sekagya had 35 international caps for the Uganda Cranes between 1999 and 2011, participating in Cecafa Championship, Afcon qualifiers as well as World Cup qualifiers. He scored three international goals before – retiring from international football in 2012.
