Manny Lagos
Chief Soccer Officer
Lagos was appointed as the first Sporting Director in club history in January 2016 and promoted to Chief Soccer Officer ahead of the 2020 season. Prior to holding this position, he worked as Head Coach of Minnesota United, taking the helm in 2010 and accruing a 78-52-59 record over six seasons, including winning the 2011 NASL championship.
The youngest of eight children, Manny began his professional career as a member of the Minnesota Thunder, where he played for seven years alongside his brother, Gerard, and under his father, Buzz, who coached and founded the team. Manny scored 29 goals with the Thunder and, in 1994, was named USL MVP, netting 18 goals and providing nine assists. Both Manny and Gerard were inducted into the USL Hall of Fame prior to the former leaving to play in MLS.
Lagos also received attention at the national team level as a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. He scored the winning goal in a 3-1 victory over Kuwait, the U.S. team’s only win of the tournament. He also made three appearances with the national team under the leadership of Bruce Arena.
During the inaugural MLS season in 1996, Lagos joined the NY/NJ MetroStars. He went on to play for five MLS clubs during his career: the MetroStars, Chicago Fire, Tampa Bay Mutiny, San Jose Earthquakes and Columbus Crew SC.
Lagos retired from professional soccer in June 2005. He entered the administrative side of the sport in January 2006, when he assumed the role of Director of Soccer Operations for the Thunder, where he emphasized youth development. An occasional broadcaster, he served as color commentator for Sirius XM Radio during the 2006 World Cup.
Lagos is a two-time winner of the NASL Coach of the Year award, given to the best coach in the league, as voted on by the media. His first came in 2011, when he led Minnesota to the Soccer Bowl title after barely making the playoffs. He earned the award again in 2014, as MNUFC won both the spring and combined season championship.
In his final season, Lagos put together the most successful offensive team in the modern era of the NASL, scoring a record 55 goals. He led the squad to the postseason for the fifth time in six seasons, qualifying by virtue of having the best remaining record, not including the spring and fall champions.
