Octavio Zambrano when he was with Sporting Kansas City as an assistant coach. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

Octavio Zambrano is back in North American soccer, if reports are true.

The former MetroStars and LA Galaxy head coach and Sporting Kansas City assistant has been hired as Canadian national team head coach, according to Canadian journalist Anthony Totera and Sportsnet.ca.

Several sources told the Totera, who first reported on the news, and the website that Zambrano had been hired by Canada Soccer and that he would bring two or three assistant coachs from South America for his staff.
John Molinaro reported the story on Sportsnet.ca.

Canada Soccer has scheduled a press conference for Friday morning. Totera and Sportsnet reported that the organization will introduce the 59-year-old Zambrano as coach.

The Canadians has been without a coach since Benito Floro’s contract contract was renewed last September following their elimination from 2018 World Cup qualifying. Michael Findlay has directed the team as interim coach since then.

Canada has qualified for only one World Cup — Mexico ’86.

Zambrano, who saved Delfin SC from being relegated in Ecuador’s top soccer league, parted ways with the club in December. He decided to leave the club because of disagreements with the management over players to be signed for next season.

He took over a Delfin side that was in last place and heading towards relegation from the 12-team Ecuadorian First Division.

Despite not being able to add any players because the transfer window had been closed, Zambrano directed the team to an eighth-place finish and within points of securing a spot in the South American Cup. That competition is the continent’s second most prestigious tournament after Copa Libertadores.

Zambrano directed the MetroStars from 2000-2002, coming within a controversial call of reaching the 2000 MLS Cup. He also has coached the LA Galaxy, Tiligul-Tiras Tiraspol (Moldova) and FC Tatabánya (Hungary) and was an assistant coach at Sporting Kansas City from 2009-2011.

 

For the original story, visit:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/sources-octavio-zambrano-named-canadian-mens-soccer-team-coach/

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.