Juan Carlos Amoros: The view from the US

A world of difference

His next move was to Houston Dash in the US, leading them to their first-ever NWSL play-offs in 2022. It’s a feat that is all the more remarkable given he was an interim manager and fresh off the plane from Spain. Having played and coached in the Netherlands, England and Scotland previously, Amoros was no stranger to acclimatising into new environments and going out of his comfort zone. Even so, he knew he would need to adapt quickly if he wanted to hit the ground running. 

“I was able to take a lot of the experience I’d gained at Betis to Houston. Still, I did a lot of preparation, studying the club and the US league as a whole. I knew it would be a very different environment in terms of the rules, player rights, markets and culture.”

Perhaps the biggest difference he found, however, was just how seriously the women’s game was taken across the Atlantic. 

“The men’s and women’s games are far more equal in the US, with many clubs seeing the latter as the priority or, like Gotham, having only a women’s side,” says Amoros. “There’s a real commitment to developing the players here, something that they and others working in the game have fought hard for. And it shows in the strength of the league. The fact that all the teams are ambitious and in it to win - not just a few teams, but all 14 - pushes everyone to be better.” 

Keep running

Amoros believes the key to success at Houston was defining early on what he wanted to achieve with the team and how he wanted them to play and engaging with each of the players individually. 

“The fact that you’re coming in as an interim means there has been a certain amount of change and uncertainty,” he says, “so the players need reassurance that they have a strong leader who knows what to do and can quickly help them to win.”

That he did. Having landed in Houston on a Monday from Spain he led the side to victory on Saturday with 12 players down. 

“Two more wins followed,” he says, “after which we started to beat some records. That was important because it gave the team a lot of momentum.” 

In November 2022 Amoros moved to fellow NWSL club NJ.NY Gotham FC, where he once again proved himself a master of the turnaround. From last place, he guided them to a record finish, earning himself the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League coach of the year award in the process. 

“Although they were at rock bottom, they had an ambitious vision to become one of the best women’s clubs in the world. And they really trusted me as a coach to help them achieve that,” he says. “We need to make sure we build on that success because when you’re at the top of the mountain, the only way is down. It takes a lot of work to keep climbing. It’s only going to get harder.” 

A learning journey

That international experience as a player while studying as a coach has played a key part in who he is as a professional and indeed as a person.

“To be exposed to different cultures and approaches, people, players and others in the football community, without realising it, all those things make you who you are,” says Amoros. “I take a lot of pride in pushing myself out of my comfort zone.”

While his recent successes have propelled him into the spotlight, he reflects on his achievements as only a small part of that journey. 

“I played and studied in the Netherlands, travelled to China, Australia and Denmark with Tottenham and done coaching badges in Scotland and England, but equally I’ve travelled around London on the tube with a bag of balls and cones, coaching private sessions and academies and in the community. All of that is part of who I am and how I got here and I’m very proud of that journey.” 

Along the way Amoros has built up an impressive portfolio of qualifications, earning his UEFA Pro licence, participating in elite coaching courses with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and even achieving a Masters of Business Administration. 

“Completing the LMA diploma in management was particularly useful, though,” he says, “because it gave me perspectives on parts of the manager’s role that they don’t always show you on other courses. The LMA’s mentoring program was also fantastic and I learned so much from my mentor Sammy Lee. 

“Qualifications are really valuable, but it’s important to remember that you learn something new every day,” he adds. “You have to be humble enough to put your ego aside and listen to those around you, because every situation is different. And you can never simply rely on what you’ve done in the past. But ongoing education in whatever form it takes is really important to me. And it’s key to who I am today as a manager.”