OSA FC Welcome Back Head Coach Filippo Milano for Second Season
Filippo Milano of OSA FC will return as head coach for the 2016 NPSL season following a successful 2015 campaign during the club’s inaugural season. Milano discusses his experience with OSA FC as the club moves forward and what his expectations are for the upcoming season.
Soccer News: Last summer, in the first OSA FC’s men’s team first season, Filippo Milano led the team to the win of the Northwest Conference and to the qualification to the U.S. Open Cup first round game.
Filippo is now preparing the team for the incoming season by having some friendly games with local teams. He has the hope to repeat the results obtained last year and maybe advancing even further in the play-offs tournament.
Also, later in the season, he will be able to count on some Italian players that are returning to Seattle after they played with the team in 2015 NPSL season.
How did you become involved with OSA FC?
“I arrived in Seattle in 2008 where I had the chance of meeting Giuseppe Pezzano and sharing with him the passion of a common idea of how integrate our past experience and knowledge in the American soccer system. Giuseppe gave me the chance of coaching the OSA women team in the 2014 WPSL season where we achieved the second place in the NW division. The year after we decided to create a men team for the NPSL team with the goal of bringing Italian players in Seattle and therefore promoting a cultural exchange based on the common passion for soccer. Another goal of the team is to give the opportunity to college players to join us to gain quality time while they are off-season.”
What playing style should we expect from the team?
“I try to have a very organized team that prefers possession instead of playing in transition. I do like an offensive strategy and scoring goals it has not been a problem for us during last season.”
Who are some key returning players?
“Some Italian players, who were key players last year, are returning. Also, I rely on my captain Matt Shaxton as the leader and always the last one to stop fighting on the pitch. I have great expectations for Eli Gordley. He was injured for great part of the season last year, but this year he is healthy and I am expecting many goals from him.”
Good luck coach!
Source/Photo Credit: OSA FC
