FC Cincinnati 2 have hired Shavar Thomas as the club’s Assistant Coach, the club announced today. Thomas, 41, joins Head Coach Tyrone Marshall and Goalkeeper Coach Ryan Coulter on the staff for the inaugural season of MLS NEXT Pro.
“I’m excited to have Shavar join our staff,” said FC Cincinnati 2 Head Coach Tyrone Marshall. “He’s a dedicated and intelligent coach, and his experience will be crucial as we work to establish this development pathway and continue to cultivate talent at FC Cincinnati.”
The Hannah Town, Jamaica native played two seasons of college soccer at UCONN before being selected 10th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the Dallas Burn. Thomas played 11 seasons of professional soccer in America, including 10 in MLS.
Thomas earned 52 caps for the Jamaican National Team, winning back-to-back Caribbean Cups in 2008 and 2010 and playing in the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups. Thomas captained the 2004 Jamaican Olympic National Team, and he was the captain for the 2010 Caribbean Cup triumph.
“I’m happy to join FC Cincinnati 2,” Thomas said. “It’s great to reunite with Tyrone as well, and the opportunity to join this team in its first year and help build it was exciting for me, and I can’t wait to get started.”
In 2017, Thomas took charge at Portmore United in the Jamaican National Premier League in Jamaica. He led Portmore to a first-place regular season finish in his first season, and Portmore won the final in 2017-18 and in 2018-19— the club’s first since 2012.
Thomas has served on the coaching staff of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Team since 2019.
ABOUT FC CINCINNATI 2
FC Cincinnati 2 is the MLS NEXT Pro squad for MLS’ FC Cincinnati. FC Cincinnati 2 is designed to serve as the bridge between the FC Cincinnati Academy and first team and will begin play in 2022. FC Cincinnati 2 will play a 24-game slate, culminating in an eight-club playoff format with a cup final. The club will be led by Head Coach Tyrone Marshall and train at Mercy Health Training Center. FC Cincinnati 2 will play matches at NKU Soccer Stadium, Mercy Health Training Center, and TQL Stadium. The full schedule can be viewed here.
The club’s crest is similar to the first team logo, with Gary the Lion being replaced by a block number “2” in the bottom half of the crest. The club will don the orange Juncta Juvant kits along with the navy-blue Dynamic Kit, and both kits will feature the FC Cincinnati 2 badge.
ABOUT MLS NEXT Pro:
MLS NEXT Pro is a professional men’s soccer league in the United States and Canada debuting with 21 clubs for its inaugural season in 2022. MLS NEXT Pro grows the game through innovation and diversity by bringing professional soccer to new markets, creating career opportunities for professionals on and off the field, and providing communities with a strong sense of pride. For more information about MLS NEXT Pro, visit mlsnextpro.com.
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati 2, visit the team’s official website at fccincinnati.com/fccincinnati2, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati2.
