San Diego FC’s inaugural season will kick off in February, and its new head coach, Mikey Varas, is ready to lead the MLS team to victory. Fresh off serving as the interim head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, Varas is discussing putting his best foot forward as he preps for the team’s inaugural home match at Snapdragon Stadium on March 1.
Coach Mikey Varas; PHOTO COURTESY OF SAN DIEGO FC
What excites me the most about joining San Diego FC is the collaboration between such a diverse, vibrant, and creative city and the ownership, which comes from the Right to Dream Academy, the Mansour Group and the Sycuan Tribe. I think it’s such a unique project where you have this unbelievable city and an incredible mission that’s purpose-driven in terms of believing that everyone has a right to dream.
Fans can expect a team with a fighting spirit, a team that is creative on the ball but aggressive in ball recovery. Starting a football team from scratch is fairly unprecedented around the world, and we’re bringing 24 to 26 strangers together to work with a staff that’s never worked together. Fans can expect a staff that will work very hard, be very competent, and make sure that we accelerate the process of building the team.
I think the region is deserving of a professional men’s football team. San Diego is a football region with a large Mexican American population and several youth football groups, and it’s a powerhouse for producing professional footballers. Every time that there’s an international game, it’s always a sellout. I can’t wait to see Snapdragon Stadium sold out. It’s the biggest soccer-specific stadium in MLS. We have the opportunity to create a legacy here in San Diego by filling every seat with really passionate and energetic fans.
Photography by: San Diego FC
