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NAME: Juan Carlos Osorio
POSITION: Head Coach
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On July 9, 2007, Juan Carlos Osorio became only the third coach in the Chicago Fire coaching family, following Bob Bradley (1998-02) and Dave Sarachan (2003-07). Osorio, 46, steps in after a successful stint from 2006-07 as manager for Club Deportivo Los Millonarios, one of the most storied clubs in the Fútbol Profesional Colombiano (Copa Mustang). The Colombian native led the Bogotá-based club to an 11-6-7 record during the 2007 Finalizacion (closing) season and a fourth place finish out of 18 teams in the Mustang Cup. Osorio's management helped Millonarios qualify for the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, one of the top club competitions in South America.
Prior to Millonarios, Osorio spent five years (2001-06) across the pond with Manchester City F.C. of the English Premier League, starting as conditioning coach before being promoted to assistant coach. No stranger to MLS, Osorio spent two seasons (2000-01) as assistant coach/conditioning coach for the MetroStars. Under head coach Octavio Zambrano, Osorio helped the MetroStars capture the 2000 Eastern Conference title and qualify for back-to-back MLS Cup Playoffs. Osorio began his coaching career as assistant coach/conditioning coach with the Staten Island Vipers (1998-99).
Osorio's playing career included stints with the New York Fever (1996-97), New York Centaurs (1995-96) and Brooklyn Italians (1994-95). He also played for the Staten Island Vipers of the A-League, which was the highest level of U.S. professional soccer prior to the formation of MLS in 1996. In addition, Osorio's playing career included stints with Deportivo Periera (1982-84) of the Colombian First Division and Second Division Risaralda FC (1984). In 1982, he saw time with the Colombian Under-20 squad.
A native of Santa Rosa del Cabal, Colombia, Osorio holds an English Football Association "A" coaching license and a coaching certificate from the Royal Netherlands Football Association. He earned a B.A. in exercise science from Southern Connecticut State University in 1990 and holds a diploma in science and football from John Moores University in Liverpool, England.
Juan Carlos and his wife, Juliette, have two sons, Sergio (7) and Sebastian (4).
