Red Bulls II has named Ibrahim Sekagya as its head coach for their inaugural season in MLS Next Pro, the club announced Monday.

Sekagya will become the third head coach in Red Bulls II history after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach.

“Ibrahim has played a crucial role in the development of Red Bulls II in addition to his success as a player with the main club,” sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statement. “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 under head coach John Wolyniec. After 7 1/2seasons 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 USL Championship season.

With Sekagya on the staff, Red Bulls II has seen 21 players go on to sign MLS contracts with the Red Bulls. Two, Tyler Adams and Aaron Long, were part of the U.S. men’s national team at the 2022 World Cup. He also has 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 organization and lead New York Red Bulls II to success,” Sekagya said in a statement. “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.”

Sekagya joined Red Bull Salzburg in 2007 after playing in Uganda and Argentina. He also helped Red Bull Salzburg win three Austrian Football Bundesliga titles over a four-year span from 2008-12 and was a memeber of the team that won the 2012 Austrian Cup. He joined the 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 Supporters’ Shield.

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.