It has taken him seven years to get back into the MLS mix, but Octavio Zambrano is set to return to Major League Soccer.
Zambrano is poised to join the Kansas City Wizards as an assistant coach, sources have confirmed to SBI. We mentioned the Zambrano-KC connection a few weeks back and the sides appear to have finalized a deal to bring the former MetroStars and LA Galaxy head coach back to MLS as a member of Peter Vermes' coaching staff. An announcement is expected in the coming days. (UPDATE-The Wizards have formally announced the hiring in a press release released on Thursday afternoon.)
"This is a great opportunity to return to MLS and join an organization with such a strong vision," Zambrano said in the statement released by the Wizards. "I anxiously await coming to Kansas City to start working with the team and preparing for the 2010 season."
Zambrano is back in MLS for the first time since 2002, when he was let go as MetroStars head coach. His inability to find another job in MLS has been one of the more inexplicable storylines in MLS for years, and a subject I wrote about on ESPN three years ago. As a head coach of the MetroStars and Galaxy, Zambrano fielded some of the best attacking teams in MLS history, but has had to wait for seven years for another chance to coach in MLS.
Zambrano has spent the past three years in Eastern Europe, coaching Moldivan club Tiligul and Hungarian club FC Talabanya.
What is our take? The hiring is a smart and gutsy move by the Wizards, who add an experienced coach with a proven track record of success in MLS. Zambrano has been away from the league for several years, but has continued to follow MLS closely, and has actually been in attendance at recent MLS Combines. With his qualities as a coach, don't be surprised to see Zambrano as a head coach in MLS again in the near future.
What do you think of Zambrano joining the Wizards? Glad to see him back. Can you see him as a head coach in MLS again?
Share your thoughts below.
Zambrano seemed like an excellent coach when he was in MLS before. He was also an offensive coach instead of your standard boring defensive coach. He got a raw deal. This guy was clearly better than most of the coaches in MLS at the time he was coaching, and even more so since that time. The idea that he is being an assistant coach seems laughable. Zambrano is Alex Ferguson when compared with coaches like Juan Carlos Yousossorryo, Dennis Hamlet, Steve Sampson, and some others.
I guess this topic of Ramos should be a seperate issue. But i just think its funny he comes out and saya things that sound sensationalized. to bad the wait is so long to call in but 90% of the time its Mexican Soccer so it aint worth calling. I don’t think Zambrano was ever in any Arena Circle so it find that rumor hilarious. I liked when he Coached the Galaxy the City actually cared more about the team then and the Local Media (Hispanic) would get behind the team. Now not so much.
I concur. to be fair, he has said some even-minded things about the USMNT in the past. Usually after the Us beats Mexico. He’s a blowhard and FMF apologist. Could not stop kissing Hugo Sanchez’ ass on the radio.
Jorge Ramos is a piece of —, he is the only reason why I try to steer away from espn deportes radio. He has some bad blood inside for everything that is american, not sure what american player boned his wife. His comments are not very professional and he gets into a kitty fight with his co-hosts daily. I used to think he was great on Tv, but not sure what happened to him. He thinks that any team that doesnt play like Barcelona is playing bunker ball and unattractive futbol. Yet his favorite team is Danubio, yeah Im sure Danubio plays the game beutifully, better than chelsea.lol
This guy is a piece of crap. Getting mixed up representing players he was signing, getting kickbacks.
The fact that he’s in the league again is NOT a positive. I love it how the negative is left out.
(SBI-Nick, none of those rumors were ever proven or confirmed, so what negatives were left out? Some baseless rumors about a guy?)
Funny, I was thinking yesterday that he might be a good fit as an assistant at Chivas USA. It is good to see him back in the league. If KC has a good 2010 season, he’ll have to be considered on of the top assistants in MLS along with Dave Sarachan and John Spencer. Hopefully he made some good connections and will bring some solid players from eastern Europe state side.
I’m assuming this will be a deal where he spends the year as an assistant and then takes over for Vermes in 2011.
OZ comes to Kansas (City).
Why can’t Zambrano be the next Red Bulls coach? I mean right now?
What I like about it is that Vermes didn’t ever play for Zambrano, did he? It’s a straight-up hire, not just somebody’s best bud, ex-coach or ex-player getting a job.
He deserved a second chance……..at KC, great coach
You know, he and I are good friends.
And my wife LOVES shopping in Kansas City.
Hmmmmmmm.
Ramos is a bit a of a snesationalist, at times. I got to believe this one, however. 2002? I think many American MLS owners are not soccer/football/futbol people or are not surrounded by many.
Zambrano is no Fabio Capello/Jose Mourinho, but he should have had another chance.
Just my 2 cents.
You’re surprised OZ couldn’t get job here after he spent years training the Hungarian Talaban?
I keep hearing from Jorge Ramos on ESPN deportes that there seems to be this Good ol boys Coaches circle that is headed by Bruce Arena. And that if your not in their good graces good luck trying to get a job in MLS. kinda wacky but a lot of people coaching in MLS are in Some way connected to Arena.