D.C. United have announced the hiring of Jonny Northeast as Head of Sports Science leading into the 2018 season. Northeast, formerly of Swansea City A.F.C. and the Welsh National Intermediate Squad, will focus on improving players’ physical preparation and athletic development while mitigating the risk of injury.

He will work closely with coaching and medical staff to plan and prepare training sessions to meet the physical demands of the season, while minimizing fatigue and implementing recovery strategies.

“We are excited that we secured the services of Jonny for next season,” Kasper said. “His extensive experience in the English Premier League with Swansea and the Welsh National Intermediate Squad will provide us and the players with the physical preparation they need to perform at the top level.”

Northeast started his career as the lead sports scientist for Swansea City’s Under-21 side while simultaneously holding the first team’s assistant sports scientist role (2010-2014). He was promoted to Head of Sports Science for the first team in 2013 and was in that role for the last four seasons. In addition to working with Swansea, Northeast was a sports scientist for the Welsh Football Association's Intermediate Squad (2015-2017) and was also a part of the backroom staff at Swansea that achieved promotion to the English Premier League in 2010 and won the 2013 Capital One Football League Cup.

Northeast earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Conditioning Rehabilitation and Massage from Cardiff Metropolitan University and his Master of Science in Applied Sports Science with a focus in Factors Underpinning Linear and Multi Directional Speed in Elite Soccer Players from Swansea University.