Naimo to Manage Pro Team

Fresh off leading the Pali Blues to the USL’s W-League soccer championship, Charlie Naimo has been named General Manager of the Los Angeles franchise in the new Women’s Professional Soccer league. The team begins play in the league’s inaugural season in April. “It’s an honor to join the Los Angeles franchise as the team’s General Manager,” Naimo said. “I believe that combining my coaching experience, work ethic and desire to impact women’s soccer with all the great players and resources we’ve assembled here in Los Angeles will give us the ability to create a winning franchise from day one.” Naimo led the Blues to a perfect season in their first campaign in the W-League. He will continue to coach the Blues even as he oversees soccer operations for the new pro team. “The teams will absolutely be connected,” Naimo said, referring to the link between the professional club and W-League side. “Our goal for the Pali Blues is to repeat as W-League champions, and we will continue to develop a strong presence in our local soccer community.” Naimo was first a head coach in 1998 with the New Jersey Splash, earning W-League Coach of the Year accolades in 1999. After a stint with the New Brunswick (NJ) Power, he took over a struggling New Jersey Wildcats club and orchestrated the reconstruction of the organization. In his three seasons with the club, Naimo compiled a 41-1 regular season record and led the Wildcats to first-place finishes in 2004 and 2006 and the W-League championship in 2005. “We’re extremely happy to have Charlie on board in the capacity of a General Manager,” said Rudi Bianchi, managing partner for the new team. “Charlie has proven to have a great ability to identify talent and a history of bringing players from all over the world to teams that he’s been a part of. We know he’ll help to deliver a great on-field product to our fans and will assist us in our dream of establishing an internationally-renowned women’s soccer club.”