With over 20 years of specialized experience developing elite goalkeepers across Italy and the United States, Sebastiano Mana is a professional in the field of goalkeeper coaching, youth development, and high-performance training based in New York City. His coaching philosophy blends deep tactical understanding, technical precision, and modern strength and conditioning methodologies to develop complete, confident, and competitive goalkeepers.

---

Professional Experience

• Met Oval Academy – MLS NEXT (Director of Goalkeeping, 8 years)
  • Oversaw the goalkeeper development program at one of the nation’s premier MLS NEXT academies, producing goalkeepers for college, professional, and national team levels.
• New York University – NYU Men’s Soccer (Goalkeeper Coach, 4 years)
  • NCAA Division III program contributor, responsible for the technical and mental preparation of goalkeepers at the collegiate level, leading to successful conference and national tournament appearances.
• Manhattan Kickers FC (Director of Goalkeeping, 8 years)
  • Designed and implemented goalkeeper curriculum from U6 to U12, mentoring young players in both grassroots and elite development environments.

• Chisola Calcio – Juventus Academy (U10-U14 Goalkeeper Coach)
  • Worked within one of the top Juventus-affiliated academies, developing young talents with a strong focus on technique, positioning, and game understanding.
• U.S. Carmagnolese – Sampdoria Academy (U12-U16 Goalkeeper Coach)
  • Led goalkeeper training at youth level, emphasizing advanced shot-stopping, distribution, and tactical awareness within the Sampdoria Academy development model.
• U.S. Cheraschese – Juventus Academy (Academy & First Team Goalkeeper Coach)
  • Coached both youth and senior team goalkeepers, bridging the gap between academy development and first-team performance with individualized programs and performance tracking.

---

Certifications & Education

• National Advanced Goalkeeping Diploma
  • A top-tier U.S. goalkeeper education credential, emphasizing elite tactical knowledge, game analysis, and performance metrics.
• F.I.G.C. Goalkeeper Strength and Conditioning Coach Diploma
  • Certified by the Italian Football Federation, specializing in goalkeeper-specific physical development, injury prevention, and performance conditioning.

---

Coaching Philosophy

“I believe in building goalkeepers with very strong fundamentals, both technically and physically, and with a high game understanding, tactically and emotionally. My goal is to create leaders who can read the game, support their team, and grow in confidence through intelligent, customized training.”

---

Key Strengths

• Deep understanding of both European and American soccer cultures
• Proven success in talent identification and development
• Holistic approach integrating technical, tactical, and physical training
• Experience working across youth, collegiate, and senior competitive levels