Derek Armstrong (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Derek James Armstrong is an English former professional footballer and current Technical Director of the San Diego Nomads
. He played as an inside-left, including Football League appearances for both Blackpool
and Carlisle United
.
where Armstrong coached Columbus Magic
. In 1981 he became the first paid youth soccer coach in the United States when he joined the staff of the La Jolla Nomads. In 1986, Armstong helped to found the San Diego Nomads and became their coach. The Nomads won the Western Soccer Alliance titles in 1987 and 1989 and in 1989 were runners-up to Fort Lauderdale in the National Professional Championship. In 2001 the Nomads took over the San Diego Flash
franchise in the A-league
, the side under Armstrong reaching the play-offs. He continues to work for the Nomads, currently as Technical Director and Board Member.
He was also coach of the University of California, San Diego
(UCSD) men's soccer team from 1983 to 2007, during which time the Tritons won three national titles. In the fifth game of the 2007 season, he coached his 500th game with UCSD. Prior to taking over as coach in 1983, the Tritons had had only won season with more wins than defeats in their seven year history. Armstrong transformed the side to the extent that the first season with more defeats than wins under his tenure did not come until the 2001 season. His cumulative record of 326-138-48 makes him the winningest coach in UCSD history. He retired as Tritons coach in September 2007 on health grounds.
He was one of the founding members of US Club Soccer, which he retired from in January 2009. In 1987 Armstrong was the coach of the United States under-20 side
in the World Youth Championship
(now known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup
) in Chile
.
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
. He played as an inside-left, including Football League appearances for both Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
.
Managerial and coaching career
Armstrong was manager of Lancaster City between 1974 and 1976. In 1978 he joined the coaching staff at Blackpool, coaching their reserve team. In 1980 he and his family emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where Armstrong coached Columbus Magic
Columbus Magic
The Columbus Magic was an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that was a member of the American Soccer League. They played their home games in Franklin County Stadium that they shared with Minor League baseball's Columbus Clippers...
. In 1981 he became the first paid youth soccer coach in the United States when he joined the staff of the La Jolla Nomads. In 1986, Armstong helped to found the San Diego Nomads and became their coach. The Nomads won the Western Soccer Alliance titles in 1987 and 1989 and in 1989 were runners-up to Fort Lauderdale in the National Professional Championship. In 2001 the Nomads took over the San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash is an American soccer team based in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1998, the team returned to competitive play in 2011 when it made its debut in the Southwest Flight of the West Division of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
franchise in the A-league
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, the side under Armstrong reaching the play-offs. He continues to work for the Nomads, currently as Technical Director and Board Member.
He was also coach of the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
(UCSD) men's soccer team from 1983 to 2007, during which time the Tritons won three national titles. In the fifth game of the 2007 season, he coached his 500th game with UCSD. Prior to taking over as coach in 1983, the Tritons had had only won season with more wins than defeats in their seven year history. Armstrong transformed the side to the extent that the first season with more defeats than wins under his tenure did not come until the 2001 season. His cumulative record of 326-138-48 makes him the winningest coach in UCSD history. He retired as Tritons coach in September 2007 on health grounds.
He was one of the founding members of US Club Soccer, which he retired from in January 2009. In 1987 Armstrong was the coach of the United States under-20 side
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
in the World Youth Championship
1987 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Chile from October 10 to October 25, 1987. The 1987 championship was the 6th contested and won for the first time by Yugoslavia. Remarkably, in the course of the tournament the Yugoslavs defeated each of the three other semi-finalists, and...
(now known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
) in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.