Coaching Staff - Yeniel Bermudez

About Yeniel Bermudez

Yeniel Bermudez is Director of Elite Programs for Alaska Rush Soccer Club. Prior to joining the club, Yeniel most recently was playing professionally with Los Angeles Blues of the USL Professional Division. Yeniel's professional career began in his native Cuba, playing with FC Cienfuegos in the Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol de Cuba. Yeniel was signed to a professional contract by Charleston Battery, making his professional debut on May 8, 2009 in game against the Carolina RailHawks, following a two-month trial with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

While captaining the Cuban U23 national team in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tampa, Florida in March 2008, Bermudez along with several other members of the team, defected to the United States under the wet foot dry foot scheme that allows Cubans who reach U.S. soil to obtain asylum. Prior to defecting, Yeniel was Captain of the U20 Cuba National Team (9 starts, 1 goal), the U21 Cuba National Team (4 starts), and the U23 Cuba National Team (5 starts, 1 goal). Yeniel also made his full Cuba National Team debut on September 2, 2006 versus Turks and Caicos. He has eight caps for the Cuba National Team, six of which were starts.

In addition to acting as the club's Director of Elite Programs, Yeniel is Head Coach for the 03B and 99G Swoosh teams as well as Lead Coach for Next:1 Training.

Education

• B.S. Physical Education and Coaching, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez University, 2008