The New York Red Bulls hosted the Red Bulls Unified Team, part of Special Olympics New Jersey, for a training session on Friday morning at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Hanover.
The unified team will also make the trip to Washington, D.C. this weekend, to take on the D.C. United unified team after the Red Bulls – United MLS match.
“We’ve had a really great relationship with Special Olympics since I’ve been here,” said Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch. “I’m not sure if it predates me, but since I’ve been here, we’ve sent guys down to Lawrenceville for the local Special Olympics, and we’ve done a lot of different events.”
The two Red Bulls teams huddled together to hear from Marsch, and then warmed up together.
“I think it was a great experience not just for the unified team, but for our guys. We all really enjoyed it,” continued Marsch. “We have two big games this weekend, two Clasicos. Everybody is aware of that, and we want to go 2-and-0.”
The unified team will also face off against the New England Revolution's unified team next Sunday at Red Bull Arena, following the Red Bulls - New England match at 2:30 p.m.
Each summer, the Red Bulls also send players to coach the two soccer-focused weeks of Special Olympics New Jersey’s Champ Shriver in Lawrenceville.
