Former U20 coach passes away

February 28, 2021

Former U.S. U20 Men’s National Team goalkeeper coach Des McAleenan passed away on Friday in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, U.S. Soccer announced over the weekend. McAleenan worked with the U.S. U18, U19, and U20 Youth Men’s National Teams for a number of years - as well as having an illustrious career as a goalkeeper coach in the professional game.

“Wherever he went, Des put a smile on everyone’s face,” current Houston Dynamo coach and former U.S. U20 MNT coach Tab Ramos said in the U.S. Soccer press release. “He was an exceptionally gifted coach and teacher and brought such an amazing spirit each and every day. I was lucky to work with him as a colleague and even luckier to call him a friend.”

Former players also posted their memories of McAleenan over the weekend as the sad hits hit the goalkeeper union especially hard.