LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC announced on Friday the club had appointed Enrique Duran as its new Head Coach ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season, and a group of 10 players that will feature at Cashman Field this year including some notable returning names and new arrivals as its preseason camp kicked off.

Seven players are set to return to the side this season, including Mexico youth international Bruce El-Mesmeri and midfielders Frank Daroma and Daniel Crisostomo. The side has also added experienced Championship goalkeeper Abraham Romero and former North Texas SC midfielder Jorge Almaguer as it prepares for its fifth campaign.

Duran most recently served as an assistant coach for Lights FC, where worked under U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer and former Lights FC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo during the past season. Raised in Madrid, Duran worked several years for FC Barcelona, where he led the organization’s initiatives related to international development of coaching methodology, ensuring its style of play was correctly incorporated by FCB’s international club partners. 

Duran also previously worked with the Johan Cruyff Football organization on coaching related projects.  To date, Duran’s career has taken him around the world in a variety of coaching positions, including roles in Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and most recently the United States.  Prior to joining Lights FC, he became the first coach to lead a youth academy team based in the United States to win the Concacaf Youth Champions League, a title earned by Los Angeles FC in 2018 as the side defeated Chivas de Guadalajara in the final.

Daroma leads the returning contingent of players after leading Lights FC with 2,599 minutes of action in the 2021 Championship season. The 20-year-old recorded a club-high 1,533 passes and a 90 percent passing accuracy rate as he teamed with Crisostomo in the center of midfield, with the more experienced midfielder posting an 89.8 percent passing accuracy rate prior to signing with Los Angeles FC late in the 2021 campaign.

A former Mexico U-17 international, El-Mesmari made 17 appearances for Lights FC a season ago and recorded one goal and one assist in 17 appearances, while forward Danny Trejo is also set to return after notching four goals in 16 appearances. Veteran defender Dekel Keinan is also set to return, as are defender Nathan Sepulveda and winger Alvaro Quezada.

Romero leads the newcomers after last season competing for 2021 Championship title winner Orange County SC, where he made three shutouts in nine appearances. The 23-year-old has made 28 appearances in the Championship overall in his career, having previously competed for the LA Galaxy II for two seasons. Almaguer, meanwhile, made more than 50 appearances for North Texas SC, while a third new arrival in midfielder Chase Bromstedt joins the club after completing his college career at the University of Tulsa.