Lazaro’s Journey: From Argentina to Coaching in Portugal’s Primeira Liga

Two decades later, Lazaro’s journey has culminated in a significant role at Portugal’s Estoril, a rising team with a modest budget that has successfully entered the upper echelons of the Primeira Liga, while also seeking a place in European competitions.

Estoril, under the guidance of 39-year-old head coach Ian Cathro, embodies youth and resilience, consistently exceeding expectations. Esteemed manager José Mourinho, currently with Benfica, recently commended their style of play following a 3-1 victory over them last week.

“They truly play well, are enjoyable to watch, and can secure commendable results even against top teams,” Mourinho remarked.

Indeed, Mourinho’s praise is well-founded. Estoril employs an aggressive pressing strategy, working diligently to regain possession and create scoring opportunities swiftly. Lazaro plays a crucial role in this framework, serving as the tactical architect. Fluent in four languages and equipped with three degrees, he draws inspiration from football’s legends.

“We play with confidence, undeterred by our opponents—be it Benfica away yesterday, Porto away three weeks ago, or Braga at home two weeks back. We approach each game without fear,” Lazaro asserted.

However, his path to this point has not been straightforward.

A narrative can be traced from his early experiences engaging with taxi drivers in Argentina to his current position. Lazaro grew up in a challenging neighborhood, located 90 minutes from Buenos Aires, often feeling isolated from friends and family. To combat loneliness, he frequently took taxi rides, where he encountered passionate drivers engrossed in soccer.

“Their enthusiasm and knowledge left a profound impact on me, igniting my passion for the game during those brief journeys,” he recalled.

These interactions enlightened him to the myriad possibilities within the football world. He realized that to nurture his football acumen, he needed exposure to the most dedicated individuals, whether they were cab drivers, players, or high-level coaches.

At 19, Lazaro evaluated the global football landscape and pinpointed the regions rich in talent and culture. Argentina offered fervor, but he yearned for diverse perspectives. Italy held the title of World Champions, France was home to top academies, and Spain was producing insightful, detail-oriented coaches well-suited for prestigious positions worldwide.

“The Spanish possessed the technical nuances I craved. For me, it was about immersing myself there to gain access since I lacked any connections,” Lazaro explained.

Real Madrid became his gateway, where he pursued a master’s degree in Talent Identification at their graduate school, later adding an MBA in Sport Management. His goal was to absorb knowledge rapidly, believing it was the most effective way to enter the industry.

“I knew I wouldn’t lose anything in this endeavor. Even if I left with no more money than I came with— which wasn’t much—I was certain I would gain valuable insights,” Lazaro stated.

He soon seized an opportunity with Spanish club Levante, where he could oversee coaching development while also engaging directly on the training ground. This role merged the community-driven ethos he cherished from Argentine soccer with the analytical rigor that stimulated his intellect.

Importantly, Lazaro distinguished himself as the sole foreign coach at the club. Subsequent experiences followed, including working with Unai Emery at Sevilla, multiple stints in Norway, and a coaching position in Ecuador, supplemented by various educational roles.

Amid these experiences, he also earned a Ph.D. in Sports Science, graduating Cum Laude with a thesis focused on player identification. Though he acknowledges the intensity of his journey, Lazaro believes that the coaching profession is inherently unstable, and his approach is simply a different route to an arduous career.

“It’s undeniably a chaotic industry; you’re essentially gambling with your family’s future every time you take a position,” he remarked.

Lazaro considers himself fortunate to have learned alongside some of the sport’s finest coaches. Spain ushered in a generation of exceptional mentors while he was there, and he fostered a close relationship with Argentine icon and current Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa during coaching courses.

Their connection has proven invaluable, largely due to Bielsa’s inquisitive nature regarding his methodologies.

“He perpetually questions his own approaches while holding steadfast to his philosophies. I’ve never encountered anyone quite like him,” Lazaro expressed.

Moreover, Lazaro admires Bielsa’s holistic philosophy toward the game. While many perceive the former Leeds manager as gruff, Lazaro recognizes the tactical depth he brings to training sessions, combining rigorous conditioning with individualized, position-specific drills.

“Bielsa’s training sessions are distinct and tailored, effectively blending technical precision with intensive workouts, such as the famed ‘murder-ball’ practice,” he elaborated.

Bielsa advocates that young coaches should gain experience at the academy level, a sentiment Lazaro resonates with.

“Marcelo, like Mourinho, wasn’t a superstar player; they evolved through different pathways. He believes profoundly in the significance of academy football before transitioning to first-team roles, which is how we connected,” he noted.

Lazaro occupies a unique position within the managerial landscape. While other coaches with academic credentials emerge in various academies, he observes numerous former greats leading teams at prestigious clubs; most coaches in high-ranking positions are in their 50s, yet few share his impressive resume and intellect at his age.

At 38, Lazaro seems to have taken an accelerated path into management, having become the youngest American to coach a professional club when he assumed control of Norway’s Oygarden FK at just 32.

Although he has an advantageous start, the road remains challenging and does not guarantee future head coaching roles. For the moment, he is content with his position at Estoril, where the team plays attractive football, currently placed 10th in the Portuguese league and financially secure. He has witnessed 15 clubs change coaches twice during his 18 months in Portugal, underscoring the sport’s unforgiving nature, driven purely by results. For now, Lazaro enjoys a degree of security with no immediate plans to seek new opportunities.

He finds harmony in Portugal, as Estoril is a community club nestled along the picturesque western coast, just 30 minutes from Lisbon. The sun-kissed, 5,000-seat Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota adds to the allure. Working alongside Cathro, who is only a year his senior, Lazaro has the freedom to innovate and influence the game. During a video call with GOAL, he was surrounded by whiteboards filled with data and analytical graphs, allowing him to engage with the sport on his own terms.

Lazaro’s thirst for knowledge remains insatiable. Similar to Bielsa, Mourinho, and his current boss, he is constantly evolving as a coach.

“I’m gaining immense insights here and genuinely consider it a privilege to coach against individuals like José and collaborate with Ian Cathro. My time with Bob Bradley in Norway also shaped my understanding of the game. These figures have paved the way for other American coaches in Europe,” he stated.

Additionally, he often plays a pivotal role in shaping Estoril’s style of play, leveraging the contemporary influences of data analytics and AI in football, while also maintaining a healthy skepticism regarding over-reliance on such tools.

“Ultimately, I believe instinct prevails. Football’s unpredictability is its greatest allure, and data can only guide you so far,” he concluded.

Estoril is captivating to watch, consistently challenging opponents. In a recent match against Benfica, despite suffering a 3-1 defeat, they recorded more shots on target than the league favorites. This reflects a cohesive alignment throughout the club, driven by a clearly defined game model and players willing to execute it.

“We employ high pressing and build play from the back—not merely for aesthetics, but because it aligns with our players’ strengths,” Lazaro emphasized.

As opportunities inevitably arise, Lazaro, now equipped with a commendable resume and a robust network of contacts, is prepared for the future. With endorsements from some of football’s elite coaches and experience as a high-level assistant manager, his trajectory remains promising.

While he maintains strong ties to his American roots, following the USMNT and staying informed about MLS developments, he acknowledges that any potential head coaching position in the U.S. would need to be exceptional and align with his aspirations.

“It would have to be something remarkable that matches my ambitions, but to be candid, that’s not occupying my thoughts at the moment,” he admitted.

In the meantime, Lazaro continues his commitment to learning, adapting weekly, and reaffirming that his decision to shift away from a nascent playing career was indeed the right one.

And there remains an abundance to explore in the realm of football.

“The deeper you delve into coaching, the more you become aware of your own knowledge gaps,” Lazaro concluded.