Manny Perez arrived in Louisville with a full understanding of the organization he was joining.
“This club is used to winning and has a winning environment,” the 23-year-old said, “and I have the same mindset.”
That’s why it’s no surprise to anyone in purple that Perez is off to a flying start with Louisville City FC. In four starts, Perez has created seven chances and bagged an assist, with a fantastic 36-of-57 duels-won clip and nine aerial duel wins. His two-way numbers match what you see on the pitch – a right fullback given the freedom to get forward with a firm understanding of his defensive duties.
Perez’s next chance to impact a game comes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when LouCity plays Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Field in Alabama.
“Manny has stepped right in,” said LouCity captain and veteran midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo. “I can’t say enough about him.”
A Garner, North Carolina, native, Perez starred at his hometown school, NC State, where he helped the Wolfpack reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. His professional then launched with Celtic FC, the Scottish powerhouse club that is half of the famous Old Firm derby in Glasgow with Rangers FC.
After two loan years with North Carolina FC in the USL Championship, Perez signed with MLS club Portland Timbers, who then loaned him to Austin FC. That’s where Perez made 10 MLS appearances last year.
He joined LouCity in February, with head coach Danny Cruz raving about Perez’s versatility, saying he has “all the tools to be dangerous on both sides of the ball.”
With long-time right back Oscar Jimenez working his way back injury, Perez recently shifted from his usual winger position to outside back. Part of the process involved developing a relationship with right-sided wide forward Brian Ownby, a LouCity mainstay coming off arguably his best season in six years here.
Ownby, who totaled 5 goals and a career-best 11 assists last season, immediately went to work with Perez, regularly pulling him aside to talk through their movement and spacing. That communication has been key to forming the relationship evident in LouCity’s first four matches.
“That’s scary, huh?” DelPiccolo said. “That’s two scary, rapid footballers on the right side. … It’s just incredible to watch them. When Ownby needs to hold back, Manny is flying forward. When Manny’s staying back, Ownby’s flying forward. It’s fun to watch and play with them.”
Perez praised Ownby’s pace and timing of his runs, saying “whenever I can play the ball into space, he can take full advantage of it.” That was exactly the case in a 2-0 win over Miami FC on March 19, when Perez’s through ball found the path of Ownby, who dribbled into the box, cut back and coolly slotted home the game-clinching goal.
“Ownby is Ownby. I’ve known him for six years now,” DelPiccolo said. “I’ve been saying for six years, I think he’s the most dangerous player in the league. For me, you just add another one (with Perez).”
Perez loves the freedom afforded him in Cruz’s system, bombing up the flanks mirroring Amadou Dia on the left side. That joy and that understanding, even just four games in, set Perez apart.
“I always told Danny he was going to get that from me as a player coming here,” Perez said. “He’s given me that freedom to join the attack whenever I want. I really like that aspect of it.”
So does LouCity.
