sport.wikisort.org - Athlete

Nicolas Perera (born 5 June 1986) is a Spanish-born American soccer coach, executive, and player who is the general manager of OL Reign of the NWSL.[2] He also plays for the Tacoma Stars of the MASL, and coached the team from 2018 to 2021.[3][4]

Nick Perera

Personal information
Full name	Nicolas Perera
Date of birth	(1986-06-05) 5 June 1986 (age 36)
Place of birth	Madrid, Spain
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current team	Tacoma Stars
Number	10
Youth career
	K.N.S. Tervuren
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007	Bakersfield Brigade	3	(0)
2008–2009	Benidorm CF
2010–2011	San Diego Sockers (indoor)	6	(5)
2011–2014	Milwaukee Wave (indoor)	69	(52)
2014–2016	San Diego Sockers (indoor)	36	(40)
2016–2017	Ontario Fury (indoor)	15	(17)
2017	Syracuse Silver Knights (indoor)	3	(4)
2017–	Tacoma Stars (indoor)	71	(102)
National team‡
2012–	United States (beach)	80	(103)
Teams managed
2018–2021	Tacoma Stars
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 January 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 June 2021[1]

Early life

Perera was born in Madrid, Spain, to Spanish father Prudencio and American mother Dione; he spent most of his childhood in Belgium.[5] Perera speaks six languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese.[6]

Playing career

Youth and college

Perera played youth soccer in Belgium with club team K.N.S. Tervuren, as well as his high school team European School of Brussels. He walked on to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team in 2005 after receiving a recommendation from his mother.

Perera played an integral role in UC Santa Barbara’s attack, leading the Gauchos to the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship and winning the national title. For his performances in the 2006 tournament, he was named the College Cup's Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Professional

After finishing college, Perera played a few matches with California-based Bakersfield Brigade of the USL Premier Development League where he was reunited with UC Santa Barbara teammates Tino Nuñez, Greg Curry, Jon Curry, and Andrew Proctor. Additionally, Eric Wynalda was also on the squad.[8]

Perera then joined Benidorm CF in Spain,[9] before heading back to America to join San Diego Sockers where he played indoor soccer. Despite appearing in just 6 games, he scored 5 goals for the club.[10]

In the off-season, Perera joined Milwaukee Wave.[11] Perera racked up 69 appearances, scoring 52 goals, before moving back to San Diego Sockers ahead of their 2014/15 season.[12] In October 2016, Perera was traded to Ontario Fury.[13] He appeared in 15 games for the Fury and scored 17 goals with 16 assists in his lone season with the club.[14]

Perera was traded in the offseason from Ontario Fury to Syracuse Silver Knights.[15] He appeared 3 times in November 2017 for the Silver Knights and scored 4 goals with two assists.[14] In December 2017, it was announced that Perera was traded to Tacoma Stars.[16][17]

International

Perera represented the United States in the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup where he led the team in goals scored. Despite the United States not advancing past the group stage, his 5 goals were good for a seventh place finish overall in the tournament.

Coaching career

In December 2018, Perera became the head coach of Tacoma Stars.[3] He coached the team until 2021 while continuing to play.[4]

Honors

College

UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

• NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship: 2006

International

United States beach soccer

• CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship: 2013

Individual

• College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player: 2006
• CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship top scorer: 2013, 2019

Executive career

Alongside his playing career, Perera is an elected member of the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council.

Perera was named the executive director of Washington Youth Soccer in June 2021.[18] In February 2022, Perera was named the general manager of OL Reign.[2]

References

External links

• Nick Perera – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Milwaukee Wave player profile at the Wayback Machine (archived April 27, 2014)
• MISL player profile
• UC Santa Barbara player profile

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