The Deyan Doychev era has begun for Jordan boys’ soccer, and the Panthers are playing things close to the vest this season.
When asked what type of training and playing style he will have his team working with this year, Doychev declined to comment.
“I want that to be private,” Doychev said. “The practices are based on what I have seen during the previous seasons with specific drills to build good skills and performance.”
Doychev was a junior varsity head coach and Varsity assistant at Jordan last season. After the late departure of Joe Gonzalez, he started his first high school head coaching job in September. Doychev said he’s been coaching club and college soccer for about 15 years so he knows what to look for, and that he has a group of enthusiastic players.
Jordan will play a pair of non-league games against St. Monica (Dec. 6) and Downey (Dec. 17). The Panthers start Moore League play against Compton on Dec. 13. Their first big league game is Jan. 5 at Millikan.
Doychev said he hasn’t decided who will make the final starting 11 for his team this season, but he’s got an eye on a few players to hold down key spots.
Daniel Barragan will likely be the starting goalkeeper behind center backs Daniel Torres and Miguel Hernandez. Reynaldo Landaverde will be the right back.
Center defensive midfielder Victor Monterola will be joined by Rigo Rueda, Joshua Limas, Jason de la Rosa and Carlos Rodriguez in the midfield. Rodriguez could also play center forward along with Brian Cordoba.
Jordan hasn’t won the league title since 1995 when they reached a CIF Southern Section final. The Panthers also reached a CIF final in 2016.
