Christopher Harrington Pursues the American Dream in North Carolina
- Christopher joins the Academy team at USL One club North Carolina FC
- The UEFA A Licence holder has coached at clubs in Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands
Christopher Harrington has landed an American Dream move to join the Academy staff of USL One club North Carolina FC.
Football Careers client Christopher has built a superb reputation as an emerging coach in the Nordic and Scandic countries but the dedicated Irishman has now taken the big leap into a booming market in the States.
Harrington will kick off 2023 as Head Coach of NC’s U14 and U17 Academy teams and will also have a role with the Under-23s in USL 2, as well as working with John Bradford’s top team as an assistant coach.
It’s a thrilling new challenge and Christopher said:
“I would like to thank everyone for giving me the chance to be a part of the NCFC family. I went through a process and spoke to John several times and it was clear to me that his and the club’s philosophy aligned with my values and beliefs.
“It is refreshing to see a club believe in and put so much into its Academy and the players in order to progress them into the first team or beyond.”
UEFA A Licence holder Harrington is a coach on a journey of education who is committed to learning varied facets of The Beautiful Game. When you glance at his Football Careers CV – as well as the stops at top clubs across Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands – you will see qualifications in Futsal and Goalkeeping.
That thirst for knowledge has now been recognised in one of the big developing platforms in North America.
NCFC finished bottom of the 11-team USL One last season but with expansion franchises coming in to bolster that competition in 2023, the former North Carolina Railhawks have big plans to improve in the 10,000 capacity Sahlen’s Stadium. Head Coach Bradford said:
“Through conversations with Christopher to fully understand his coaching philosophy and viewing his training it was clear that his focus on individual player development, matched with team success, is an excellent fit for our club.”
Christopher’s UEFA A was earned with his native Football Association of Ireland and he went on to earn his UEFA Youth Elite A in his days in Iceland. Harrington’s last role in Iceland was as First Team Coach at KR Reykjavik where he also worked in the Academy and helped nurture players who starred in the Icelandic national teams.
He is currently also working as a scout for Hobro IK who operate in the Danish First Division. Christopher has built his CV in roles varying from Head Coach to Academy Director and now takes a well-rounded bank of experiences to the States.
As a player Harrington enjoyed four years of collegiate football in America at Lambuth University in Memphis. He graduated with a BSc in Health and Human Performance and a minor in Sports Psychology and went on to play pro in both Canada and Iceland before kicking off his coaching career.
Six years ago he was the youngest Head Coach in the NPSL when he guided Memphis City FC and now life has come full circle for a football man who first made the trip to America with a head full of dreams as a teenager back in 2005. Christopher can’t wait to get started and he enthused:
“In terms of the set-up of the club with facilities, structure and, most importantly, good people, NCFC is on par with some of the top clubs I’ve seen. I am looking forward to getting started and giving everything for the players that I will work with and the club as a whole.”
