Michael Johnson Performance have continued their expansion into the football market ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Ivory Coast national football team have announced that they will base themselves at the world renowned Michael Johnson Performance Centre in Dallas before they head to Brazil.

The squad, which includes world stars Didier Drogba, Gervinho, Yaya and Kolo Toure face Colombia, Greece and Japan in Group C, will be using the world class Michael Johnson Performance facilities prior to their friendly against El Salvador at the Toyota Stadium in Dallas.

This follows the launch of Michael Johnson Performance at St. George’s Park in the UK in partnership with Perform at England’s National Football Centre.

Founder and former Olympic and World Champion, Michael Johnson, commented; “We are delighted to welcome Ivory Coast to Michael Johnson Performance for their World Cup preparation.

“It is a significant step into the football industry for MJP and continues to cement our position within the market.

“The pre season preparation programme has been very well received in the UK and I am personally looking forward to coming to the UK and coaching some of the sessions in June.”

MJP is known widely in the US as the destination for NFL athletes for off-season training and conditioning and recently launched its UK HQ at St George’s Park, in an attempt to bring its outstanding facilities and coaching expertise to football.

The UK Pre-Season programme will create bespoke training for athletes including a focus on speed, injury prevention, nutrition analysis and support, massage and physiotherapy, mental skills training and more.

MJP, founded by the former World and Olympic champion Michael Johnson, operates training centres and trains athletes around the world, including some of the world’s most recognisable elite, professional, and Olympic athletes and teams.

Former athletes that have been through the MJP experience include, Detriot Lions’ Ndamukong Suh, Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner, Baltimore Ravens’ Michael Oher and 400m World Champion Jehue Gordon.

Source