Octavio Zambrano
Encyclopedia
Octavio Zambrano is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer (MLS) history, .
and later played two seasons with the Los Angeles Lazers
in the Major Indoor Soccer League
.
. In 1992, he became both the assistant coach with the Los Angeles Salsa
of the APSL and head coach of the East Los Angeles Cobras
of USISL. He also coached the successful largely ethnic team from Southern California, LA Salsa U-19, a Mc Guire Cup finalist. He was the 1994 USISL Western Division Coach of the Year. Following his work with the LA Salsa Zambrano was hired by the Mission Viejo Pateadores, one of the United States Top Soccer Academies. He joined MLS as an assistant for Lothar Osiander
with the Los Angeles Galaxy
and assumed head coaching duties when Osiander was fired early in the 1997 season. Zambrano's 1998 Galaxy went 24 and 8 and broke all MLS scoring records, ending the year with 85 goals, became the first American team to make it to a CONCACAF clubs final against Cruz Azul of Mexico. But in the playoffs they faltered, falling to Bob Bradley
's expansion Chicago Fire. Five games into the 1999 season, Zambrano was fired.
Zambrano re-surfaced as the head coach of the MetroStars
in 2000, replacing the famous and much traveled Bora Milutinovic. He coached the team for three years, following a promising two years winning the MLS Eastern Division championship and playing in two league semifinals, with a disappointing third. Zambrano was fired and replaced by Bradley after the 2002 season, Zambrano still holds the best league and goal scoring record amongst all MetroStars/Red Bull Coaches, a list that includes Carlos Queiroz, Alberto Parreira, Bora MIlutinovic and Bob Bradley. From 2003 to 2006 Zambrano served a three year term as elected Vice-President of FENODE (Ecuadorian/American Sports Federation).
In 2006, he was hired as the head coach for CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol
in Moldova. In 2008, after successfully saving the team from relegation, he left Tiligul and moved to FC Tatabánya
in the Hungarian Soproni Liga.In 2009, he left Tatabanya and was hired by CONCACAF to write the Technical Report for the Gold Cup 2009.
There is a rumor that Zambrano might lead the Puerto Rico national football team
for the 2010 Caribbean Cup and the 2011 Gold Cup.
On December 3, 2009 Zambrano was hired by the Kansas City Wizards as assistant head coach. He joins the coaching staff of head coach Peter Vermes, which includes assistant coaches Kerry Zavagnin, Zoran Savic and John Pascarella for the 2010 season. He has promised to bring a more fluid, attacking style of soccer to KC.
Player
Zambrano moved to the United States from his native Ecuador in 1980 to attend Chapman UniversityChapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
and later played two seasons with the Los Angeles Lazers
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...
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...
.
Coach
In 1990, he was an assistant coach with the California Emperors in the American Professional Soccer LeagueAmerican Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. In 1992, he became both the assistant coach with the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
of the APSL and head coach of the East Los Angeles Cobras
East Los Angeles Cobras
The Los Angeles Salsa U-23's were an American soccer team that played in East Los Angeles, California.They joined the USISL in 1993, as the East Los Angeles Cobras. The next season they became the Los Angeles Salsa U-23's and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995.-Year-by-year:...
of USISL. He also coached the successful largely ethnic team from Southern California, LA Salsa U-19, a Mc Guire Cup finalist. He was the 1994 USISL Western Division Coach of the Year. Following his work with the LA Salsa Zambrano was hired by the Mission Viejo Pateadores, one of the United States Top Soccer Academies. He joined MLS as an assistant for Lothar Osiander
Lothar Osiander
Lothar Osiander is a U.S.-German soccer coach who has served as head coach to the U.S. national and Olympic teams as well as the Atlanta Ruckus, Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Clash....
with the 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...
and assumed head coaching duties when Osiander was fired early in the 1997 season. Zambrano's 1998 Galaxy went 24 and 8 and broke all MLS scoring records, ending the year with 85 goals, became the first American team to make it to a CONCACAF clubs final against Cruz Azul of Mexico. But in the playoffs they faltered, falling to Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
's expansion Chicago Fire. Five games into the 1999 season, Zambrano was fired.
Zambrano re-surfaced as the head coach of 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 2000, replacing the famous and much traveled Bora Milutinovic. He coached the team for three years, following a promising two years winning the MLS Eastern Division championship and playing in two league semifinals, with a disappointing third. Zambrano was fired and replaced by Bradley after the 2002 season, Zambrano still holds the best league and goal scoring record amongst all MetroStars/Red Bull Coaches, a list that includes Carlos Queiroz, Alberto Parreira, Bora MIlutinovic and Bob Bradley. From 2003 to 2006 Zambrano served a three year term as elected Vice-President of FENODE (Ecuadorian/American Sports Federation).
In 2006, he was hired as the head coach for CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol
CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol
CS Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol was a Moldovan football club based in Tiraspol. They played in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football. Their home stadium was Stadionul Municipal....
in Moldova. In 2008, after successfully saving the team from relegation, he left Tiligul and moved to FC Tatabánya
FC Tatabánya
FC Tatabánya is a Hungarian football club based in Tatabánya. They play their home games at Stadion Gyula Grosics.- History :The Tatabányai Sport Klub was founded on February 6, 1910 by Ferenc Frei, a mining engineer...
in the Hungarian Soproni Liga.In 2009, he left Tatabanya and was hired by CONCACAF to write the Technical Report for the Gold Cup 2009.
There is a rumor that Zambrano might lead the Puerto Rico national football team
Puerto Rico national football team
The Puerto Rico national football team is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of the CONCACAF....
for the 2010 Caribbean Cup and the 2011 Gold Cup.
On December 3, 2009 Zambrano was hired by the Kansas City Wizards as assistant head coach. He joins the coaching staff of head coach Peter Vermes, which includes assistant coaches Kerry Zavagnin, Zoran Savic and John Pascarella for the 2010 season. He has promised to bring a more fluid, attacking style of soccer to KC.