Reyna to lead City's MLS project

Manchester City have announced that former United States international and City captain Claudio Reyna will be the director of football at New York City FC.

City, in partnership with baseball giants the New York Yankees, announced on Tuesday they had bought a franchise to compete in Major League Soccer from 2015.

The club have wasted little time in beginning work building the new entity by bringing in Reyna, who had a spell with City as a player between 2003 and 2007, and also had stints at Rangers and Sunderland.

Reyna was surprisingly unveiled as New York City's first employee at a press event to formally announce the club's launch at the Lexington Academy in Manhattan.

City chief executive Ferran Soriano said: "Finding the right person for this role and getting him in place from the start was a priority.

"The football culture of New York City FC will be built from this decision, and we believe Claudio is the man who uniquely understands what New York soccer should mean, and how it can benefit from the relationship with Manchester City FC."