NASL Minnesota United FC

Manny Lagos Named 2014 North American Soccer League Coach of the Year

Published on November 14, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Friday, November 14th, 2014) -- For leading Minnesota United on a successful 2014 campaign, the North American Soccer League has named Minnesota United Head Coach Manny Lagos the 2014 Coach of the Year. Lagos led Minnesota to finish the season with 16 wins, seven draws, and five losses.

"We had a great year, I think this award is a representation of the great coaching staff and the players," said Lagos. "We have had a good core of players the last few years and we brought in some exciting new talent this year as well. I appreciate the honor, but it really is a reflection of what we did on the field."

Lagos, 43, was made the head coach of Minnesota in 2010 and has a 64-41-51 record in his five years with the team. During his tenure, Minnesota has made the postseason four times, reached the finals twice, and won the 2011 NASL Soccer Bowl. This season, Lagos and United earned 55 points in the regular season, setting a modern NASL record.

"I am always trying to adapt, evolve and get better," Lagos continued. "I always reflect on the things we did well and how we can get better as a club. I try and put people in positions to make people better and I believe we did that this year. For me, I give a lot credit to our entire coaching staff, our fitness trainers and my coaching staff: Carl Craig, Paul O'Connor and Donny Mark. We really push each other to get better, and I know we will continue to do so next year."

The St. Paul, Minn. native, who is currently second on the League's all-time list of regular season victories during the modern era, is also one of only three coaches who has stayed with the same team since the NASL's re-launch in 2011.

As a player, Lagos spent the first seven years of his career with the Minnesota Thunder while being coached by his father, Minnesota soccer legend Buzz Lagos. Lagos then joined the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the inaugural season of MLS in 1996. He also played for Chicago Fire, Tampa Bay Mutiny, San Jose Earthquakes, and Columbus Crew before retiring in 2005. Lagos won the MLS Cup three times during his career.

Lagos also made several appearances for the U.S. National Team, starting with the 1992 Summer Olympics. He scored the game-winning goal for the U.S. against Kuwait, where the game would eventually end 3-1.

The NASL Coach of the Year award was voted on by media who cover the league on a regular basis. In 2012, Ricky Hill of the Tampa Bay Rowdies won the award, while Brian Haynes of the Atlanta Silverbacks took home the prize in 2013.

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