MLS expansion team San Diego FC hired Mikey Varas as head coach on Monday.
Most recently he was interim head coach of the United States men's national team.
“The opportunity to build something special from the ground up, with such an ambitious and committed leadership, and in a city with such a passionate fan base, is truly exciting,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the team and the community to develop a winning culture from the ground up. I will give my all for this club and the people of San Diego.”
Varas is scheduled to be introduced at a news conference Tuesday at Snapdragon Stadium, which will be the team's home field when it begins play in February.
“Mikey represents the values and ambitions of San Diego FC,” said San Diego FC Sporting Director Tyler Heaps. “His ideas about the game and how it should be played align with our own, and his commitment and energy throughout the process connects us to this community and our vision for the club. We have high aspirations for SDFC and believe Mikey has the right drive, passion and leadership to help us build a winning culture.”
Varas is a former FC Dallas assistant and was the head coach of the U.S. U-20 national team from November 2021 to August 2023, when he became one of Gregg Berhalter's national team assistants.
The 41-year-old led the United States to the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 title, earning the Americans their first men's Olympic berth since 2008, and to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Under-20 World Cup, where they lost to Uruguay 2-0.
He coached the U.S. national team to a 2-1 loss to Canada and a 1-1 draw against New Zealand in exhibition matches in September as the USSF finalized a deal with Mauricio Pochettino to take over through the 2026 World Cup.
