Curt Onalfo
Encyclopedia
Curt Onalfo is an American
former soccer player.
As a player, he played two seasons in France, two in the USISL, one in Mexico and four in Major League Soccer
, achieving his most success with Los Angeles Galaxy
and D.C. United
. He earned also earned one caps with the United States national team
. He has an extensive coaching résumé, mostly as an assistant at the professional and national team levels, and spent two years as the head coach of the Kansas City Wizards
.
, Onalfo grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut
, and played high school soccer at Ridgefield High School
, before going on to play four years of college soccer
at the University of Virginia
under Bruce Arena
- an association that would serve him well in his later coaching career.
, but a six-month battle with Hodgkin's Disease in 1993 disrupted his career and almost ended his life. After extensive chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission and Onalfo recovered, going on to play for the Connecticut Wolves
of the USISL in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, he signed with Major League Soccer
which was planning to begin its first season that year. When the league was forced to delay its first season until 1996, the league sent Onalfo on loan with Tampico Madero
of the Mexican second division. He met and married his wife in Tampico and his family still maintain a home there; Onalfo also speaks fluent Spanish. In February 1996, the Los Angeles Galaxy
selected Onalfo in the eight round (seventy-fourth overall) in the inaugural draft
. He would feature in almost half of the Galaxy's games that year, as well as the first MLS Cup
. He went on to play for the San Jose Clash (later the Earthquakes) in the next season, and then for D.C. United
in 1998 and 1999, winning the MLS Cup
with United in his last year.
at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, the gold-medal-winning team of the 1991 Pan American Games
, and also the US squad at the 1992 Summer Olympics
. In sum, he played over 100 games for the United States at various levels, though he was capped only once for the senior team
. That cap came in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica
on June 14, 1988.
His first managerial job in professional soccer came when he was hired as assistant coach to Thomas Rongen
– later replaced by Ray Hudson
– at D.C. United
, a position he occupied from 2001 through 2002. In the latter year, Onalfo left to become an assistant to Bruce Arena during the 2002–2006 stretch of Arena's tenure as coach of the US national team
. In 2005, Onalfo was included among the final three candidates for the top job at the Colorado Rapids
, eventually being passed over for Fernando Clavijo
.
On November 27, 2006, Onalfo was selected by Peter Vermes
, technical director of the Kansas City Wizards
, as the new head coach for the team, replacing interim coach Brian Bliss
. He has indicated that he will urge an attacking style as a coach for the Wizards, who had finished poorly in their previous season and failed to make the playoffs. Onalfo's skill as a communicator, his natural leadership – as evidenced by his captaincy of several US youth squads – his ability at scouting opponents, and his experience in evaluating talent have been cited as important reasons for his selection.
With the Wizards in sixth place in MLS's Eastern Conference with a 5–6–7 record and coming off a 6–0 road loss to FC Dallas
two nights earlier, Onalfo was dismissed on August 3, 2009. He finished with a 27–29–22 record with the ballclub. "Our shareholder group is thankful for Curt Onalfo's service over the last two-and-a-half seasons, but we felt a change needed to be made", Wizards president Robb Heineman said. "We are committed to developing high-performance and consistency around our club."
He was hired as the head coach of D.C. United
on December 28, 2009. On August 4, 2010, Onalfo was dismissed as head coach of D.C. United.
On January 27, 2011, Curt was named assistant coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy, reuniting with head coach Bruce Arena, with whom he formerly coached for the US National Team and played for at D.C. United in 1998. Curt was also named head coach of the Galaxy's reserve team the same day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former soccer player.
As a player, he played two seasons in France, two in the USISL, one in Mexico and four in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, achieving his most success with Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
and D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. He earned also earned one caps with the United States national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He has an extensive coaching résumé, mostly as an assistant at the professional and national team levels, and spent two years as the head coach of the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
.
Youth
Though born in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Onalfo grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield, Connecticut
Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Situated in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, the 300-year-old community had a population of 24,638 at the 2010 census. The town center, which was formerly a borough, is defined by the U.S...
, and played high school soccer at Ridgefield High School
Ridgefield High School (Ridgefield, Connecticut)
Ridgefield High School is a public high school in Ridgefield, Connecticut. It was voted #683 in Newsweek's 2010 list of the top 1600 high schools in America. The school mascot is the Tiger....
, before going on to play four years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
under Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
- an association that would serve him well in his later coaching career.
Professional
His first professional experience came at La Ciotat, in the French fifth divisionChampionnat de France Amateurs 2
The Championnat de France amateur 2, commonly referred to as simply CFA 2 and formerly known as National 3, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fifth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, Championnat National, and the Championnat de France...
, but a six-month battle with Hodgkin's Disease in 1993 disrupted his career and almost ended his life. After extensive chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission and Onalfo recovered, going on to play for the Connecticut Wolves
Connecticut Wolves
The Connecticut Wolves were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993 to 2002. Based in New Britain, Connecticut, and playing in Veteran's Stadium, the club started in the D-3 Pro League before moving to the A-League in 1997.-History:...
of the USISL in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, he signed with Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
which was planning to begin its first season that year. When the league was forced to delay its first season until 1996, the league sent Onalfo on loan with Tampico Madero
Jaibos Tampico Madero
Club Jaiba Brava del Tampico Madero is a football team that plays in the Segunda División de México, the third division of the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación...
of the Mexican second division. He met and married his wife in Tampico and his family still maintain a home there; Onalfo also speaks fluent Spanish. In February 1996, the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
selected Onalfo in the eight round (seventy-fourth overall) in the inaugural draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He would feature in almost half of the Galaxy's games that year, as well as the first MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
. He went on to play for the San Jose Clash (later the Earthquakes) in the next season, and then for D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
in 1998 and 1999, winning the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
with United in his last year.
International
In the late 80s and early 90s, Onalfo featured for the US national teams on both youth and senior levels, co-captaining the US U-20 national teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, the gold-medal-winning team of the 1991 Pan American Games
Football at the 1991 Pan American Games
The eleventh edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Havana, Cuba from August 4 to August 13, 1991. Eight teams competed, with title holder Brazil missing...
, and also the US squad at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. In sum, he played over 100 games for the United States at various levels, though he was capped only once for the senior team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. That cap came in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
on June 14, 1988.
Coaching career
After retiring, Onalfo continued to work with youth soccer in training, coaching, and technical director roles, as he had done throughout his playing days – for McLean Youth Soccer in Virginia, various teams in Ridgefield, CT, and for his own company, Curt Onalfo Soccer.His first managerial job in professional soccer came when he was hired as assistant coach to Thomas Rongen
Thomas Rongen
Thomas Rongen is a Dutch soccer coach, formerly the head coach of D.C. United, the Sporting Director of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA, and the coach of the American Samoa national association football team...
– later replaced by Ray Hudson
Ray Hudson
Ray Hudson , is a retired professional football player and former coach who currently works as an English-language football commentator on Gol TV.-Career:...
– at D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, a position he occupied from 2001 through 2002. In the latter year, Onalfo left to become an assistant to Bruce Arena during the 2002–2006 stretch of Arena's tenure as coach of the US national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. In 2005, Onalfo was included among the final three candidates for the top job at the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
, eventually being passed over for Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo is a retired American soccer football defender and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League, two in the North American Soccer League and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
.
On November 27, 2006, Onalfo was selected by Peter Vermes
Peter Vermes
Peter Joseph Vermes is an American former professional soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer....
, technical director of the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, as the new head coach for the team, replacing interim coach Brian Bliss
Brian Bliss
Brian Boyer Bliss is a retired American soccer defender and former coach of the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. He played professionally in Europe and the United States including the original Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and...
. He has indicated that he will urge an attacking style as a coach for the Wizards, who had finished poorly in their previous season and failed to make the playoffs. Onalfo's skill as a communicator, his natural leadership – as evidenced by his captaincy of several US youth squads – his ability at scouting opponents, and his experience in evaluating talent have been cited as important reasons for his selection.
With the Wizards in sixth place in MLS's Eastern Conference with a 5–6–7 record and coming off a 6–0 road loss to FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
two nights earlier, Onalfo was dismissed on August 3, 2009. He finished with a 27–29–22 record with the ballclub. "Our shareholder group is thankful for Curt Onalfo's service over the last two-and-a-half seasons, but we felt a change needed to be made", Wizards president Robb Heineman said. "We are committed to developing high-performance and consistency around our club."
He was hired as the head coach of D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
on December 28, 2009. On August 4, 2010, Onalfo was dismissed as head coach of D.C. United.
On January 27, 2011, Curt was named assistant coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy, reuniting with head coach Bruce Arena, with whom he formerly coached for the US National Team and played for at D.C. United in 1998. Curt was also named head coach of the Galaxy's reserve team the same day.