Charlie Trout
Puerto Rico
155th FIFA World Rankings
Trout was a youth player with the Imps, but he didn’t make a senior appearance. He was a former Leeds prospect and was handed a squad number in 2003/04, number 32. Whilst with the Imps, he began coaching the younger age groups, which fired a lifelong passion for coaching.
He didn’t make a senior appearance for the Imps, and later played for Gainsborough Trinity, amongst others, before moving over to the States at the age of 22. He continued his passion for coaching, working with Chicago United FC before stepping up to the MLS Chicago Fire Academy. He later coached at FC United DA at every level from U12 to U23, and then Puerto Rico Under 21s, before taking the top job in March 2023. At the time, they were ranked 170th in the world.
They’ve never qualified for a World Cup, but they’re still in with a shout. They’re third in their group, behind Surinam and El Salvador. With four games to go, those two countries have to travel to Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, while the teams below them, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Anguilla play host before qualification ends.
This next break, make sure you have eyes on them – they play host to World Champions Argentina. Imps and World Champions, eh?