Mike Munoz
Encyclopedia
Michael Alejandro Munoz is a retired American
soccer player. His last club that he played for was the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer in 2009.
and played college soccer
at the University of California, Berkeley
. In his first three seasons he started 60 out of 63 matches. As a freshman he garnered 2nd Team All Pac 10 and 3rd Team All-West Region honors, and in his sophomore and junior year he notched First Team All-Pac 10 and 2nd Team All West-Region. He was also a two-year captain for the Golden Bears his junior and senior year. However, four games into his senior season he tore his right MCL
and was out for the rest of the year. In 2002 Munoz was offered a two year contract deal in Norway from Fredrikstad FC, but chose not to sign.
During his college years he also played for Orange County Blue Star
in the USL Premier Development League
.
by Chivas USA, but in September 2006 he underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery, which sidelined him for the rest of the season, having appeared in just one game. He was waived at the end of the season.
After leaving Chivas, Munoz signed with California Victory
of the USL First Division
. He scored the first league goal in Victory history on April 28, 2007 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC - a goal was awarded Goal Of The Week, and saw him named part of the USL First Division Team Of The Week on April 30, 2007. Munoz left the Victory when the team folded at the end of the 2007 season.
After a short stint with Los Angeles-based amateur team Hollywood United, who he helped qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in 2008, and having played several games for Los Angeles Galaxy's reserves, Munoz was signed to a contract with Los Angeles Galaxy
on August 1, 2008.
He played just 1 senior game for Galaxy and decided to retire from playing professional soccer in 2009.
.
Munoz works with ex-US International Greg Vanney and a supporting staff where they have established the first MLS Residential Academy in the United States in fewer than 8 months. The U-18 and U-16 boys teams begin play in Fall 2010.
Munoz has over 6 years of experience coaching at the youth soccer level.
Munoz was an assistant coach at University of San Francisco during the spring of 2007.
Munoz returned to his alma mater to become an assistant coach at UC Berkeley during their fall season of 2007
In 2009 Munoz joined his old club, the LA Galaxy as an assistant coach of the U16 LA Galaxy Academy 2009.
Currently Munoz is the head coach of Boys U16 RSL-AZ Development Academy and Assistant Coach of U18 RSL-AZ Development Academy.
Munoz is also actively involved with US Soccer as a Youth National Team Scout, specifically the U17 Mens National Team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player. His last club that he played for was the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer in 2009.
College and Amateur
Munoz attended Los Alamitos High SchoolLos Alamitos High School
Los Alamitos High School is a public school for grades 9 to 12 located in Los Alamitos, California, and also serving the city of Seal Beach and the community of Rossmoor. It is the only traditional high school in the Los Alamitos Unified School District; the far smaller Laurel High School serves...
and played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. In his first three seasons he started 60 out of 63 matches. As a freshman he garnered 2nd Team All Pac 10 and 3rd Team All-West Region honors, and in his sophomore and junior year he notched First Team All-Pac 10 and 2nd Team All West-Region. He was also a two-year captain for the Golden Bears his junior and senior year. However, four games into his senior season he tore his right MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
and was out for the rest of the year. In 2002 Munoz was offered a two year contract deal in Norway from Fredrikstad FC, but chose not to sign.
During his college years he also played for Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
Munoz was selected in the first round, 3rd overall, in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
Following the signature of the first MLS players' union contract, the MLS Superdraft was limited to four rounds. As a result, the Supplemental Draft was re-incarnated to hold the additional rounds. The 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft, held on February 4, 2005, was the first re-incarnation of the MLS...
by Chivas USA, but in September 2006 he underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery, which sidelined him for the rest of the season, having appeared in just one game. He was waived at the end of the season.
After leaving Chivas, Munoz signed with California Victory
California Victory
The California Victory was a USL First Division professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés withdrew its support....
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He scored the first league goal in Victory history on April 28, 2007 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC - a goal was awarded Goal Of The Week, and saw him named part of the USL First Division Team Of The Week on April 30, 2007. Munoz left the Victory when the team folded at the end of the 2007 season.
After a short stint with Los Angeles-based amateur team Hollywood United, who he helped qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in 2008, and having played several games for Los Angeles Galaxy's reserves, Munoz was signed to a contract with Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, 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, and the league's second...
on August 1, 2008.
He played just 1 senior game for Galaxy and decided to retire from playing professional soccer in 2009.
International
In 2002 Munoz represented his country as part of the US Under 20 Men's National Team under head coach Thomas RongenThomas Rongen
Thomas Rongen is a Dutch soccer coach, formerly the head coach of D.C. United, the Sporting Director of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA, and the coach of the American Samoa national association football team...
.
Personal
Currently Michael Munoz lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently holds two titles: (1.) Director of Soccer Communications at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona and (2.) Staff Coach of Real Salt Lake-Arizona Youth Academy.Munoz works with ex-US International Greg Vanney and a supporting staff where they have established the first MLS Residential Academy in the United States in fewer than 8 months. The U-18 and U-16 boys teams begin play in Fall 2010.
Coaching
Munoz holds a U.S Soccer Federation 'pro A' coaching license.Munoz has over 6 years of experience coaching at the youth soccer level.
Munoz was an assistant coach at University of San Francisco during the spring of 2007.
Munoz returned to his alma mater to become an assistant coach at UC Berkeley during their fall season of 2007
In 2009 Munoz joined his old club, the LA Galaxy as an assistant coach of the U16 LA Galaxy Academy 2009.
Currently Munoz is the head coach of Boys U16 RSL-AZ Development Academy and Assistant Coach of U18 RSL-AZ Development Academy.
Munoz is also actively involved with US Soccer as a Youth National Team Scout, specifically the U17 Mens National Team.