Position: Defender
Birthdate: February 19, 1999
Hometown: Garner, North Carolina
Height: 6 foot
Pronunciation: Manny Perez
Previous Team: Portland Timbers
2023: Perez is back in Louisville for a second year with City.
Last Season: Perez took over duties at right back with 33 appearances and 27 starts. The defender contributed 4 blocks, 42 interceptions, and 59 tackles to one of the top back lines in the USL Championship. Perez’s first and only goal on the season sparked LouCity’s second half comeback in an Eastern Conference Semifinal against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, helping push the game into extra time before the boys in purple advanced in a penalty kick shootout.
Before Louisville City: Perez made 10 appearances in 2021 while on loan to Major League Soccer’s Austin FC. Previously, he played two collegiate seasons at NC State, where in 2017 he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Freshman of the Year, before turning professional in 2019 with powerhouse Celtic F.C. The Scottish club loaned him to then-USL Championship side North Carolina FC, where he numbered 1 goal and 5 assists over 37 appearances seasons until signing with the Timbers in 2021. Perez has also featured as a U.S. youth international, earning caps at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels. He most notably tallied a goal and 2 assists in helping the red, white and blue win the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship.