Jorge Armúa Explained

Jorge Armúa
Birth Place:Montevideo, Uruguay
Years1:1974–1979
Clubs1:Huracán Buceo
Years2:1987
Clubs2:Nacional Latino
Manageryears1:1986–1992
Managerclubs1:Toronto Blizzard (assistant coach)
Manageryears2:1993–1998
Managerclubs2:Scarborough/North York Astros
Manageryears3:2004–2005
Managerclubs3:Hamilton Thunder
Manageryears4:2007
Managerclubs4:Portuguese Supra

Jorge Armúa is a Uruguayan former footballer and head coach of several Ontario soccer clubs. He is currently the head coach of Clarkson soccer club.

Playing career

Armúa began his professional career in his native Uruguay in the Uruguayan Primera División with Huracán Buceo.[1] His greatest achievement with the club was being awarded the golden ball trophy in 1976 which recognized the best player of the season.[2] In 1987, he played in the National Soccer League with Nacional Latino.[3]

Managerial career

Canada

Armúa's first managerial job was with the Toronto Blizzard of the original Canadian Soccer League where he served as an assistant coach. His first head coach position was with the Scarborough Astros of the Canadian National Soccer League in 1993.[4] His greatest achievement with Scarborough was reaching the Ontario cup finals, which ended in a 3–0 defeat in penalty shootout to the St. Catharines Wolves.[5] In 1995, he was selected along with Mark Konert as the head coaches for the CNSL All-Star team against Parma.[6] In 1998, The Astros relocated to North York and joined the newly formed Canadian Professional Soccer League. In their first season in the CPSL the club finished fourth overall in the standings and reached the semi-finals, but were defeated by the Toronto Olympians.[7] He coached the Woodbridge Strikers and won the Ontario Soccer League.[8]

Armúa returned to the CPSL in 2004 to coach the Hamilton Thunder.[9] He repeated Hamilton's previous success by once again claiming the Western Conference title and securing a playoff berth. In the postseason the Thunder faced Toronto Croatia in the semi-finals but were defeated by a score of 2–0.[10] Armúa resumed his duties as head coach for Hamilton for the 2005 season.[11] Where he once again added more silverware to Hamilton's cabinet by successfully defending their Western Conference title for the third year in a row. He was also selected as the head coach for the league's all-star team that faced Scottish side Rangers F.C..[12] In the playoffs, Hamilton received a bye to the semi-finals, where the club would face the Oakville Blue Devils. However, Hamilton was deprived of five core players from the starting lineup because the players were affiliated with the Woodbridge Azzuri which consequently discontinued their association with Hamilton resulting in a shortage of players for the club which led to their defeat to Oakville.[13]

In 2007, he was appointed head coach of Portuguese Supra midway through the season. He achieved the club's first victory since 15 July 2007 on a 2–1 win over North York Astros.[14] Unfortunately, Armúa's attempt to revive Supra meet in vain as the club finished last in the International Division, and second last in the overall standings missing out on the postseason.

Youth level

In 2008, Armúa became involved with Mississauga-based Clarkson Comets where he coached various youth groups in the club's program.[15] [16]

Honors

Hamilton Thunder

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DE TODO UN POCO.
  2. Web site: FUTBOL URUGUAYO ESTADISTICAS DEL CAMPEONATO URUGUAYO RECORDS Copy and WIN : http://ow.ly/KNICZ Copy and WIN : http://ow.ly/KNICZ.
  3. News: Vera Méndez. Hugo. 22 July 1987. RIDPUT NUEVO ENTRENADOR. 13. El Popular.
  4. Web site: North York Astros All-Time Coaches . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090601082652/http://www.northyorkastros.ca/page.php?page_id=13527 . 1 June 2009 . 18 March 2024 . northyorkastros.ca.
  5. Web site: Cup Playoffs. October 1995. Rocket Robin's Home Page. Glover. Robin.
  6. News: Da Costa. Norman. 13 August 1995. Powerful Parma invades Varsity. B8. Toronto Star.
  7. Web site: Here are the results of the CPSL game between North York Astros and Toronto Olympians played at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York at 7:30pm. This was considered the 1st game of the 2 game aggregate Playoff Semi-Final.. 4 October 1998. Rocket Robin's Home Page. Glover. Robin.
  8. Web site: HEAD COACH Jorge Armua. Clarkson soccer club.
  9. News: 4 August 2004 . Thunder host Toronto Supra tonight . Hamilton Spectator.
  10. Web site: Result of the Saturday October 9th, 2004 CPSL game between Hamilton Thunder and Toronto Croatia played at Victoria Park in Brampton at 1:00pm. This was a semi-final game of the Rogers Cup tournament.. 9 October 2004. Rocket Robin's Home Page. Glover. Robin.
  11. News: Moko . Larry . 5 April 2005 . Watch out for Thunder; Hamilton soccer team promises super season . . SP16.
  12. News: Moko . Larry . 22 July 2005 . Thunder goaltender heading for Portugal . . SP9.
  13. Web site: Result of the Saturday October 8th, 2005 CPSL game between Hamilton Thunder and Oakville Blue Devils played at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York at 2:00pm. This was the final of the Western Conference.. 8 October 2005. Rocket Robin's Home Page. Glover. Robin.
  14. Web site: August 19, 2007 CSL summary of weekend games (from CSL media release). www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 14 October 2015.
  15. News: Winer . David . 29 September 2008 . Clarkson Comets rewarded for their work ethic . Mississauga News.
  16. News: Chin . Joseph . 21 May 2009 . Comets shooting for the stars . Mississauga News.