DJ Pereira
DJ Pereira
Before joining Vale West as its new Director in Winter 2024, Durval (DJ) had been with Cheshire Soccer Club since 2013 and officially started with the CSC United program in 2015. He is a former NCAA Div. 1 (Quinnipiac) and Div. 2 (New Haven) Men’s Coach and holds his USSF A License as well as his United Soccer Coaches Advanced Director of Coaching Diploma. DJ coached and studied in Barcelona, Spain where he received his Master’s in High Performance Soccer and Scouting with the prestigious MBP School of Coaches. He studied and worked with clubs in Catalunya. DJ also was an MLS NEXT Coach for Beachside SC working with the age groups 12 to U23 over the past 5 years. He currently implements the MBP Methodology to help players gain a better understanding of how to play the game through implementation and coaching education.
As a player Coach Pereira was a member of the U15/U17 US National Team and was recruited as Top Drawer Soccer top 50 players for the class of 2008. DJ was a graduate of CHS where he was the first soccer All-American, CJSA Player of the Year, 2x All New England, 3x All Area MVP and Conference player. He played for Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) in their Academy as well as Oakwood SC (CT) from 2004 to 2008. DJ went on to play at Quinnipiac University for 3 years. The former Bobcat Captain left to pursue a professional career in Portugal in the 2nd division. He has also played in the USL, USL2 in the US for several teams. Durval was inducted in the CHS Hall of Fame in 2020.