VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the appointment of Martyn Pert as the club’s new assistant coach, rounding out head coach Carl Robinson’s technical staff ahead of the 2014 Major League Soccer season. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Whitecaps FC assistant coach Martyn Pert
- Former assistant coach with Cardiff City FC, Coventry City FC, and Bahrain men’s national team
- Holds a UEFA Pro License – the highest and final coaching qualification available
- Fluent in Spanish
“Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “His knowledge of the game, both tactically and technically, is fantastic and he also brings an expertise in sports science. Martyn will play a major role in the day-to-day activities of the first team and we are thrilled to have him onboard.”
Pert, 36, brings a wealth of experience as both an assistant coach and fitness coach to his new post at Whitecaps FC. Hailing from Norfolk, England, Pert has previously served as an assistant coach with English Premier League outfit Cardiff City FC, Football League Championship side Coventry City FC, and the Bahrain senior men’s national team.
“This is an exciting new challenge for me,” said Pert. “I was very impressed with the setup in place at Whitecaps FC and I am really looking forward to joining Carl and the rest of the technical staff for the start of the preseason.”
The former Norwich City FC youth player joined Cardiff City FC in the summer of 2013 as an assistant coach/head of conditioning to help the 2012-13 Football League Championship winners prepare for their debut season in the English Premier League. At Cardiff, Pert was also responsible for player recruitment, opposition scouting, the planning and implementation of team training sessions, as well as match-day tactics and strategy.
Prior to his appointment at Cardiff, Pert spent 13 months as an assistant coach with the Bahrain senior men’s national team. Under former Leicester City FC and England U-21 manager Peter Taylor, Pert helped Bahrain win two tournaments: the 2011 Arab Games and the 2011 Gulf Cooperation Council Games – the first time Bahrain’s national team had won a regional competition.
A graduate of Loughborough University’s Sport & Exercise master’s program, Pert has held head of conditioning/sports science positions with Watford FC, Fulham FC, and Cardiff City FC. With Cardiff and eventually Watford, Pert served the duel-role as head of conditioning and assistant coach.
Additionally, Pert was the reserve team manager with both Watford FC and Coventry City FC.
The 36-year-old, who has also previously served as a youth coach with Cambridge United FC, Norwich City FC, Cambridge City FC, and West Bromwich Albion FC, is fluent in Spanish and holds a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Pro License – the highest and final coaching qualification available.
Whitecaps FC begin their 2014 MLS season on March 8 versus New York Red Bulls at BC Place. Season tickets start at just $349, subject to applicable fees. The 'Caps also offer a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets ($199), and a youth soccer half-season ticket ($100). For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visitwhitecapsfc.com/tickets.
