Today is the day. The blog has learned that the Oakland Roots are set to announce Noah Delgado as the team’s next head coach after leading the organization to last season’s playoffs under the interim tag.
Oakland will also retain at least two of its core figures on the coaching staff, including goal keeper coach Peter Davis and first assistant Gavin Glinton.
This doesn’t come as a big surprise for many Roots supporters after Delgado led Oakland to a 5-1-3 record to end the regular season before reaching the second round of the USL Championship playoffs–defeating San Diego Loyal 3-0 in the opening round.
Taking over following the sudden departure of Juan Guerra on August 18, it became clear that Delgado was the man for the job as the season waged on. He’ll now have the full reins as the offseason gets underway.
“I’m incredibly humbled by this opportunity with such a special organization,” said Delgado, via the team’s statement. “Oakland is a truly special city with some of the best fans and people anywhere in the world and Oakland Roots are a unique club who put the time and work in for the community they represent. The 2023 season can not come soon enough.”
Delgado, 42, was a member of Oakland’s staff under Jordan Ferrell in 2021 and is the only holdover from last year’s staff. He is also a member of the El Salvador National Team’s staff as an assistant under manager Hugo Perez.
Delgado is a native of Fremont and played collegiately at Fresno State. He has five years of experience on the Puerto Rico National Team from 2008-2012 as a midfielder, scoring nine goals in 25 appearances.
Professionally, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Galaxy with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, but was not offered a contract. Delgado quickly signed with the Portland Timbers in the USL A-League before playing for the Syracuse Salty Dogs and Rochester Raging Rhinos the following two years.
From there, he signed with the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2005 and played until their dissolution in 2012, making 174 appearances and scored 16 goals. They made the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals in 2008 and was their captain from 2009-2011. In 2014, Delgado played for the San Francisco Stompers of the NPSL.
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