Mike Munoz (soccer)

Mike Munoz

Personal information
Full name	Mike Munoz
Date of birth	September 14, 1983 (1983-09-14) (age 28)
Place of birth	Bellflower, California, United States
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Orange County Blue Star
Number	9
Youth career
2001–2004	California Golden Bears
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002	Orange County Blue Star
2005–2006	Chivas USA	1	(0)
2007	California Victory	23	(1)
2008	Hollywood United
2008–2009	Los Angeles Galaxy	1	(0)
2009–	Orange County Blue Star	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 July 2009. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael Alejandro Munoz (born September 14, 1983 in Bellflower, California) is a retired American soccer player. His last club that he played for was the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer in 2009.

Career

College and Amateur

Munoz attended Los Alamitos High School and played college soccer at the University of California, Berkeley. In his first three seasons he started 60 out of 63 matches. As a freshman he garnered 2nd Team All Pac 10 and 3rd Team All-West Region honors, and in his sophomore and junior year he notched First Team All-Pac 10 and 2nd Team All West-Region. He was also a two-year captain for the Golden Bears his junior and senior year. However, four games into his senior season he tore his right MCL and was out for the rest of the year. In 2002 Munoz was offered a two year contract deal in Norway from Fredrikstad FC, but chose not to sign.

During his college years he also played for Orange County Blue Star in the USL Premier Development League.

Professional

Munoz was selected in the first round, 3rd overall, in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft by Chivas USA, but in September 2006 he underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery, which sidelined him for the rest of the season, having appeared in just one game. He was waived at the end of the season.

After leaving Chivas, Munoz signed with California Victory of the USL First Division. He scored the first league goal in Victory history on April 28, 2007 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC - a goal was awarded Goal Of The Week, and saw him named part of the USL First Division Team Of The Week on April 30, 2007. Munoz left the Victory when the team folded at the end of the 2007 season.

After a short stint with Los Angeles-based amateur team Hollywood United, who he helped qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in 2008, and having played several games for Los Angeles Galaxy's reserves, Munoz was signed to a contract with Los Angeles Galaxy on August 1, 2008.^[1]

He played just 1 senior game for Galaxy and decided to retire from playing professional soccer in 2009.

International

In 2002 Munoz represented his country as part of the US Under 20 Men's National Team under head coach Thomas Rongen.

Personal

Currently Michael Munoz lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently holds two titles: (1.) Director of Soccer Communications at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona and (2.) Staff Coach of Real Salt Lake-Arizona Youth Academy. Munoz works with ex-US International Greg Vanney and a supporting staff where they have established the first MLS Residential Academy in the United States in fewer than 8 months. The U-18 and U-16 boys teams begin play in Fall 2010.

Coaching

Munoz holds a U.S Soccer Federation 'pro A' coaching license.

Munoz has over 6 years of experience coaching at the youth soccer level.

Munoz was an assistant coach at University of San Francisco during the spring of 2007.

Munoz returned to his alma mater to become an assistant coach at UC Berkeley during their fall season of 2007

In 2009 Munoz joined his old club, the LA Galaxy as an assistant coach of the U16 LA Galaxy Academy 2009.

Currently Munoz is the head coach of Boys U16 RSL-AZ Development Academy and Assistant Coach of U18 RSL-AZ Development Academy.

Munoz is also actively involved with US Soccer as a Youth National Team Scout, specifically the U17 Mens National Team.

References

1. ^ http://thelagalaxy.blogspot.com Official Los Angeles Galaxy blog

Persondata
Name	Munoz, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1983-09-14
Place of birth	Bellflower, California, United States
Date of death
Place of death