Toronto FC announced on Friday that the club has hired Thomas Rongen as the club’s new Academy Director.

“We are very pleased to welcome Thomas Rongen to Toronto FC. He has both great coaching experience with youth and in the MLS,” said Toronto FC Head Coach & Technical Director, Aron Winter. “Thomas will be a welcomed addition to our club and an important asset for the continued development of our Academy program.”

Rongen, 55, is a native of Amsterdam and joins Toronto FC after most recently serving as the head coach of the national team of America Samoa. Prior to his post at American Samoa, Rongen served his second term as the head coach of the Under-20 United States men’s national team. He led the team to two FIFA U-20 World Cups in 2007 and 2009 during his five year tenure.

Rongen brings a wealth of Major League Soccer experience to Toronto FC having coached four different clubs. He was one of the inaugural coaches in the league and began his MLS career with the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1996. He won the MLS regular season and MLS Coach of the Year honours in his first season. Rongen left the Mutiny after one season and took the head coaching position with the New England Revolution, where he remained for two seasons. Following his time at New England, Rongen moved to D.C. United and led the club to the 1999 MLS Cup title. He left D.C. United in 2001 to begin his first stint with the United States U-20 team, where he remained until 2005. In 2005, Rongen was hired as Chivas USA’s head coach for the club’s inaugural season.

Rongen began his playing career at Ajax Amsterdam and remained with the club for four seasons. In 1979, he moved to the United States and joined the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League. Rongen spent time at various clubs in the country until his retirement as a player in 1988.