20 Facts About Manny Lagos

Manuel "Manny" Lagos was born on June 11,1971 and is an American former professional soccer player who played as a midfielder.

Manny Lagos is the former head coach of Minnesota United FC.

In 1994, the Thunder's last year as an all-amateur side, Manny Lagos led the team through a near-perfect season and was awarded the USL MVP award, having scored 18 goals and 9 assists.

In 2006, Manny Lagos was elected to the USL Hall of Fame.

In 1996, midway through the inaugural MLS season, Manny Lagos was signed by the MetroStars.

Manny Lagos impressed right away, but his season was cut short after he tore his left-knee's ACL, MCL, and LCL in a single horrific injury just six games in.

Manny Lagos made a comeback in the next season, playing in 15 league matches, but still impaired and less effective than before.

Manny Lagos came back swinging, scoring 4 goals in 10 games and earning Player of the Week honors.

Manny Lagos continued his momentum in 2000, when he scored 8 goals and added 7 assists in 1500 minutes, making him the league's tenth-place leader in points per game, but he would eventually request a trade for personal reasons, as his wife disliked Tampa and wished to pursue her law career elsewhere.

Manny Lagos was dealt to the San Jose Earthquakes in January 2001 on a draft-day trade for second-round and third-round picks, and played for the Earthquakes from 2001 through 2003, starting regularly in every season and winning MLS Cups in the bookend years.

Manny Lagos enjoyed what was likely his best season in 2001, playing a key role in the Earthquakes' playoff run by adding 3 goals and 2 assists to regular season totals of 8 and 8.

Manny Lagos played 18 games and scored 1 goal for the Crew that year, but never really recovered from the last of his many knee surgeries, seeing his playing time dwindle to 5 appearances in 2005.

Manny Lagos is remembered as a talented player who was dogged by knee injuries throughout his career.

Manny Lagos earned three caps for the US from 2001 to 2003, scoring no goals.

In January 2006, Manny Lagos was named the Director of Soccer Operations for the Minnesota Thunder.

Manny Lagos has done some sporadic work in broadcasting, serving as a color commentator for XM Radio during the 2006 World Cup.

On February 10,2010, Manny Lagos was appointed as the head coach of newly expansion NSC Minnesota Stars following the implosion of the Thunder.

Manny Lagos led the Stars to victory in the 2011 NASL Soccer Bowl, and to a runner up finish in the 2012 Soccer Bowl.

Manny Lagos was named the NASL Coach of the Year in 2011 and in 2014, the only coach to have won the award twice.

Manny Lagos is the son of Buzz Lagos, an American soccer coach at both the college and professional levels, and the youngest of eight children.