Former Men's Soccer Player Filipe Celikkaya Announced as Sporting B Head Coach
7/13/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LISBON, Portugal- Former Sacred Heart University Men's Soccer player, Filipe Celikkaya ('08) has been announced as Head Coach of the Sporting CP B team signing a three-year contract.
Celikkaya, 35, will lead the B team of Sporting CP, after spells at Chaves (2017/2018), Vitória de Guimarães (2018/2019) and Shakhtar Donetsk – competing in the Champions League and winning the league (2019/2020 ) – all as assistant to Luís Castro.
"I could not be happier for Filipe", said Head Coach, Joe Barroso. "This is a fantastic opportunity for him following on from the success he had last season winning the league and competing in the Champions League with Shakhtar." We are proud his time here at SHU is part of his journey towards his many successes and I am positive he will and achieve a lot in the game at the highest level". "It also provides us with a fantastic resource from a recruiting standpoint in Portugal".
Celikkaya was part of the Sporting U-19 technical team between 2015 and 2017 after a brief spell in the United Emirates as assistant of Al Ahli U19. Filipe began his professional coaching career with Benfica U15 after graduating from SHU in 2008.
"Soccer has given me opportunities all over the world - Ukraine, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates', said Filipe, but my first experience abroad was in the United States at Sacred Heart University. I was recruited by Head Coach Joe Barroso and played alongside now current assistant coach Anthony Anzevui, both of whom I remain very close with. I was able to discover a new country, a new culture and also become fluent in English, while continuing both my studies and playing at the DI level."
