Pablo Mastroeni

Pablo Mastroeni (born August 29, 1976) is an American soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake. He was formerly head coach of the Colorado Rapids, and assistant coach of the Houston Dynamo. In his playing career, he played as a defensive midfielder. Born in Argentina, he played for the United States men's national team.

Pablo Mastroeni
Mastroeni coaching the Colorado Rapids in 2017
Personal information
Full name Pablo Mastroeni[1]
Date of birth (1976-08-29) August 29, 1976
Place of birth Mendoza, Argentina
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1997 North Carolina State
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Tucson Amigos
1998–2001 Miami Fusion 100 (2)
1998 → MLS Pro-40 (loan) 1 (0)
2002–2013 Colorado Rapids 225 (5)
2013 LA Galaxy 9 (0)
Total 334 (7)
International career‡
2001–2009 United States 65 (0)
Managerial career
2014–2017 Colorado Rapids
2020 Houston Dynamo (assistant)
2021 Real Salt Lake (assistant)
2021 Real Salt Lake (interim)
2022– Real Salt Lake
Medal record
Representing  United States
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2002
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2005
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2007
Third placeCONCACAF Gold Cup2003
Men's Football
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 10, 2013
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 6, 2011

Early life and education

Mastroeni moved to the United States from Argentina with his family at the age of four, settling in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Thunderbird High School, and played youth soccer for the Santos Futbol Clube. Mastroeni attended North Carolina State University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1994 to 1997. From 1995 to 1997, he spent the collegiate off season playing for the Tucson Amigos of the USISL.[2][3]

Playing career

Professional

In February 1998, the Miami Fusion selected Mastroeni in the second round (thirteenth overall) of the 1998 MLS College Draft. He played four seasons with the Fusion, becoming a regular starter in his second year with the team in either central defense or defensive midfield, and was named to the MLS Best XI in 2001.

The Fusion was contracted after the 2001 season and Mastroeni was the first overall choice of the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft, going to the Colorado Rapids, whom he captained to their first title in 2010. Mastroeni scored his first MLS playoff goal against the Columbus Crew on October 28, 2010.

Mastroeni was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy in June 2013[4] and retired at the end of the season.[5]

In 2021, Mastroeni's #25 was retired by the Colorado Rapids.[6] This was the first number retired by the Colorado Rapids.

International career
Mastroeni in 2006

Mastroeni earned his first U.S. cap against Ecuador on June 7, 2001. When Chris Armas went out with an injury just weeks prior to the 2002 World Cup, Mastroeni found himself a starter in the opening game as the U.S. defeated Portugal 3–2.

On January 10, 2005, it was reported that he tore the quadriceps in his left leg and would be out for six to eight weeks.[7] The injury happened while training with the national team.

Mastroeni was named to the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad. In a FIFA World Cup 2006 match against Italy on June 17, Mastroeni was given a red card for an aggressive tackle in the first half. Mastroeni was fined CHF 7,500 and received a three-game suspension, thus missing the last U.S. match of the World Cup and the first two matches of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

On February 7, 2007, during a friendly between the United States and Mexico, Mastroeni was the team captain.

Mastroeni was called up for the United States' first World Cup qualifying match of 2010 and two third-round matches, and started three of the first five final round matches for the United States. However, he was not named to the Confederations Cup roster nor any of the squads for the final five qualifiers for the United States.

Coaching

2014

Mastroeni was named the interim head coach of the Colorado Rapids after Oscar Pareja left for FC Dallas in January 2014. He was named head coach of the Rapids on March 8, 2014, one week before the 2014 season began.[8]

In 2014, Mastroeni and the Rapids experienced the worst Rapids season in the 34 game MLS era. Allowing the most goals in the MLS, 62, the Rapids finished second to last in the Western Conference with 32 points.[9]

2015

2015 was another unsuccessful campaign for Mastroeni. The Rapids ended the season last in the Western Conference and second to last in the overall standings, receiving the second overall pick in the upcoming MLS Superdraft.

2016

During the offseason before the 2016 season, Mastroeni visited London, spending several days watching Arsenal and Tottenham train. While there, he analyzed the coaching styles of Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino and Arsenal's Arsène Wenger, before he traveled to Orlando to attend a supplementary coaching course.[10] Mastroeni helped the Rapids establish a team identity in 2016, a defensive based team which operated out of the 4-2-3-1 formation. This identity helped the Rapids to their best regular season record of all time, with a franchise low 6 losses and a franchise high of 58 points.[11] The team allowed an MLS low 32 goals in 2016.[12] Mastroeni finished second in voting for the annual MLS Coach of the Year award.

2017

In the offseason, Mastroeni signed a three-year contract extension, through 2019.[12] On August 15, Mastroeni was fired as Head Coach and replaced by Steve Cooke.

Houston Dynamo

In 2020, Mastroeni was named as an assistant coach for the Houston Dynamo[13]

2021

In 2021, Mastroeni was named as an assistant coach for Real Salt Lake[14] On August 27, 2021, he was named the interim head coach upon Freddy Juarez's unexpected midseason departure.[15] On December 13, 2021, Mastroeni was named permanent head coach of the club for the 2022 season.[16]

Coaching statistics
As of match played October 22, 2023[17]
Coaching record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Colorado Rapids United States January 4, 2014 August 15, 2017 136 43 35 58 155 185 −30 031.62 [18]
Real Salt Lake United States August 27, 2021 present 96 40 21 35 138 149 −11 041.67 [19]
Total 232 83 56 93 293 334 −41 035.78

Honors

United States

Miami Fusion

Colorado Rapids

Individual

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: United States" (PDF). FIFA. March 21, 2014. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 10, 2019.
  2. "N.C. foes become Arizona amigos – Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 2 (1993–2009)". Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  3. Seattle, Chicago battle for U.S. soccer's other prize Archived February 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Rapids acquire draft pick and international spot from LA Galaxy for Pablo Mastroeni | Colorado Rapids". Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  5. "Colorado Rapids legend Pablo Mastroeni retires | Colorado Rapids". Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  6. Rapids, Colorado. "Rapids Retire Pablo Mastroeni's Number 25". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  7. "Mastroeni injures left quadriceps, will miss 6–8 weeks; game with Guatemala set". SoccerTimes.com. January 10, 2006. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  8. Petty, Daniel (March 8, 2014). "Pablo Mastroeni named head coach of Colorado Rapids one week before season start". Denver Post. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  9. "MLS Soccer Standings".
  10. "Colorado Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni hopes to reward loyalty with on-field success | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  11. "Record - By Year | Colorado Rapids". Archived from the original on August 29, 2014.
  12. "Rapids sign Mastroeni to new contract - sources". December 13, 2016.
  13. "Pablo Mastroeni - Assistant Coach | Houston Dynamo". Archived from the original on October 25, 2020.
  14. "RSL Names Pablo Mastroeni Assistant Coach | Real Salt Lake". rsl. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  15. "Real Salt Lake, head coach Freddy Juarez part ways midseason". MLS. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  16. "Real Salt Lake name Pablo Mastroeni permanent head coach". mlssoccer.com. December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  17. "Pablo Mastroeni career sheet". footballdatabase. footballdatabase. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  18. "Colorado Rapids: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  19. "Real Salt Lake: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  20. "2000 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com. July 29, 2000. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
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