Ali Hanif Becomes South Valley Surf's Director of Goalkeeping
Ali Hanif joins South Valley Surf as the Director Of Goalkeeping, overseeing all goalkeeper training at the club! Ali has just recently joined the women’s soccer staff at CSU- Bakersfield, coming to CSUB from Illinois State and FC Central Illinois/ Eclipse Central Illinois Soccer club (2021-2022). Ali comes to Bakersfield with 15 years of coaching experience in the UK and U.S. spanning, Professional, Semi-Pro, NCAA D1, NAIA, ODP & ECNL experience.
Ali came to Illinois State after spending a pair of seasons at MidAmerica Nazarene as an assistant coach overseeing the goalkeepers. Ali helped MNU reach the Heart of America Conference tournament in both seasons. The Pioneers won 14 matches in Hanif’s first season making an NAIA Tournament appearance – the second trip in program history.
Additionally, Ali has served as the Director of Goalkeeping at Kansas City Athletics SC (ECNL) and the Kansas ODP as a goalkeeper coach from 2018-2021! Ali helped numerous goalkeepers make college commitments over the years, throughout the country.
In 2017, Ali joined the WPSL staff at GSI/KC Athletics Pride for two seasons working with numerous players who now play the trade in the NWSL and abroad.
Ali began his coaching career in 2008 on staff with Manchester United FC from 2008-2018! Working with various areas of the club as a goalkeeper and assistant coach with the boys and girls. He held assistant and head coaching positions at Loreto College (Manchester, England) with the men’s program (2012-17) before coming to the US.
Ali holds his USSF C License, UEFA C License, English FA and Scottish FA Goalkeeping Licenses, and is on course to complete the UEFA B Goalkeeping License this summer.
A native of Manchester, England, Hanif attended Manchester Metropolitan University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Coaching and Sports Development in 2015.
