RSL hires Tom Spall as academy director

Real Salt Lake has named a new director of the RSL Academy: Tom Spall, a former assessor and project manager who’s been working with the English Premier League and MLS.

His work in England came with the Elite Player Performance Plan, and in the U.S. and Canada, with Double PASS an auditor. He formerly worked as an academy coach at Barnsley FC and Sheffield United FC, and served in roles at Bottesford Town FC, Lincoln City FC and Scunthorpe United, all in England.

From a club-issued release, RSL assistant general manager Elliott Fall:

“We had a deep pool of well-qualified applicants and Tom stood out because of his impressive credentials and his extensive knowledge of Academies through his previous work with Doublepass. His vision for the future of the RSL Academy runs in lock-step with what we envisioned, but he also adds new dimensions to what we believe we can achieve through youth development.”

Rob Zarkos, RSL’s executive vice president of soccer operations:

“Our Academy is a huge component to our long-term planning as an organization, so that made this hire very important to the trajectory of those long-term goals,” RSL Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Rob Zarkos said. “In talking with Tom and getting a sense for what he envisions for the Academy, he solidifies a lot of the projections for where we can take the club through the growth at the Academy level.”

Spall himself:

“My philosophies are similar to the club’s. For me, it’s all about helping RSL be the best Development Academy in North America. There’s a structure in place already. I see my role as linking the foundation to the Academy in Arizona and the Academy here. It’s like a big puzzle and we’re trying to bring it all together.”