Fernando Clavijo
Encyclopedia
Fernando Clavijo is a retired American soccer football defender
and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids
of Major League Soccer
. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League
, two in the North American Soccer League
and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He earned 61 caps with the United States men's national soccer team
and eight with the U.S. National Futsal Team. He later coached both indoor and outdoor teams as well as at the national team level with Nigeria and Haiti. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
. In 1979, Clavijo and his wife moved to the United States
in order for him to play for the New York Apollo
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). The Apollo changed its name to the New York United between the 1979 and 1980 season. Clavijo then spent two seasons with the United. In 1983, he moved to the San Jose Earthquakes
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). In 1984, he was an NASL All Star with the Earthquakes.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
. In 1984, he moved to the San Diego Sockers where he contributed to the Sockers winning three championships in his four years with the team.
where he was player-coach. In 1994, he became the head coach of the Seattle SeaDogs
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL). In 1997, he was the CISL Coach of the Year. He then moved to the Florida ThunderCats
of the National Professional Soccer League. He then assisted ex-US coach Bora Milutinovic with the Nigerian national team
at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
. He followed Bora to Major League Soccer as well, assisting him with the MetroStars
in 1999, the worst season for any team in league history. He left the club after the year, assuming head coaching duties with the New England Revolution
, but was fired midway through the 2002 season after not much success.
In 1998, he also served as the head coach of the U.S. Futsal
Team.
On October 16, 2003, Clavijo became the head coach of the Haitian national team
. He led them through World Cup Qualifying
, resigning his position after Haiti lost to Jamaica
.http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/misctopic/sports/soccer-new-coach-2003.htm On December 22, 2004, the Colorado Rapids
hired Clavijo as the team's head coach.
Clavijo was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2005.
Coach Clavijo resigned from the Colorado Rapids on August 20, 2008 after a record in all competitions of 43 wins - 55 losses - 26 draws.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, two in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. He earned 61 caps with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and eight with the U.S. National Futsal Team. He later coached both indoor and outdoor teams as well as at the national team level with Nigeria and Haiti. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Outdoor
Clavijo began his professional playing career at the age of 16 with Uruguayan club Atenas De San CarlosAtenas de San Carlos
Club Atlético Atenas is a football club from San Carlos, Maldonado in Uruguay. They currently play in the Uruguayan 1era Division.- History :...
. In 1979, Clavijo and his wife moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in order for him to play for the New York Apollo
New York Apollo
The New York Greeks was an American soccer club based in New York City that was a member of the American Soccer League.The team began as the amateur Greek-Americans. The club played lower Premier Division of the German American Soccer League which was based in the New York metropolitan area...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL). The Apollo changed its name to the New York United between the 1979 and 1980 season. Clavijo then spent two seasons with the United. In 1983, he moved to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). In 1984, he was an NASL All Star with the Earthquakes.
Indoor
Clavijo began his indoor soccer career, which rapidly eclipsed his outdoor career, in 1981 with the New York ArrowsNew York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. In 1984, he moved to the San Diego Sockers where he contributed to the Sockers winning three championships in his four years with the team.
Futsal
In 1992, he had earned 8 caps, scoring two goals, for the U.S. Futsal Team.http://www.ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_88-TFAR.htmlCoaching
Clavijo's coaching career began in 1991 with the St. Louis StormSt. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
where he was player-coach. In 1994, he became the head coach of the Seattle SeaDogs
Seattle SeaDogs
The Seattle SeaDogs are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1995 to 1997. They won the last CISL championship in 1997.-History:...
of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
(CISL). In 1997, he was the CISL Coach of the Year. He then moved to the Florida ThunderCats
Florida ThunderCats
The Florida ThunderCats were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. The team folded after one season.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He then assisted ex-US coach Bora Milutinovic with the Nigerian national team
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. He followed Bora to Major League Soccer as well, assisting him with the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
in 1999, the worst season for any team in league history. He left the club after the year, assuming head coaching duties with the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, but was fired midway through the 2002 season after not much success.
In 1998, he also served as the head coach of the U.S. Futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
Team.
On October 16, 2003, Clavijo became the head coach of the Haitian national team
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
. He led them through World Cup Qualifying
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for North, Central America and the Caribbean. A total of 34 teams took part , competing for 3.5 places in the World Cup.The qualification process was divided in three stages...
, resigning his position after Haiti lost to Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
.http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/misctopic/sports/soccer-new-coach-2003.htm On December 22, 2004, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
hired Clavijo as the team's head coach.
Clavijo was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 2005.
Coach Clavijo resigned from the Colorado Rapids on August 20, 2008 after a record in all competitions of 43 wins - 55 losses - 26 draws.
MISL stats
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981/82 | New York New York Arrows The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:... |
22 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 1982/83 | New York | 43 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 12 |
| 1984/85 | San Diego | 39 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 |
| 1985/86 | San Diego | 47 | 17 | 9 | 26 | 13 |
| 1986/87 | San Diego | 50 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 12 |
| 1987/88 | San Diego | 51 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 27 |
| 1988/89 | Los Angeles Los Angeles Lazers Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to... |
46 | 10 | 17 | 29 | 29 |
| 1989/90 | St. Louis St. Louis Storm The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St... |
52 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 10 |
| 1990/91 | St. Louis | 47 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 18 |
| 1991/92 | St. Louis | 37 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 4 |
| TOTAL | MISL | 434 | 111 | 131 | 242 | 139 |
NASL
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Golden Bay San Jose Earthquakes (NASL) San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes... |
21 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 | Golden Bay | 19 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| TOTAL | NASL | 40 | 1 | 2 | 4 |