2024/25 Sockers Coaching Staff Announced

  • The Sockers begin their quest for the 17th indoor soccer championship with a revamped roster for the new season.  
  • Sockers alum, Gus Castaneda, joins the coaching staff as an assistant coach.  
  • The season opener is against the Tacoma Stars at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington on Saturday, December 7 at 6:05 p.m. 

 

The San Diego Sockers announce the coaching staff for the 2024-25 Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) season. Led by General Manager Miguel “Chiky” Luna, the team embarks on their journey for a record-setting 17th indoor soccer championship. Five-time champion head coach Phil Salvagio returns to the bench, with assistant coaches Rene Ortiz and Luna by his side. The staff is bolstered by the addition of assistant coach, Gus Castaneda.  

 

“We are very happy with the addition of Gus to the coaching staff. He brings a lot of coaching experience and also has the experience of playing professional indoor soccer,” said Luna. “Adding another great soccer mind to our staff only improves our coaching staff and the team in general. Very happy to have him on board.” 

 

Head coach Phil Salvagio, 50, returns for his 14th season on the Sockers’ bench, tying Ron Newman’s franchise record for longevity. Under Salvagio’s guidance, the Sockers won four consecutive Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro) championships from 2009-2013, including a U.S. professional team sports-record 48-match winning streak from 2011-13, a streak yet to be surpassed. Salvagio won Coach of the Year honors in 2010-11 and 2011-12 when the Sockers were a perfect 24-0 across all competitions. In 2018-19, Salvagio guided the Sockers to a 23-1 regular-season record, earning his third Coach of the Year honor, and first in the MASL. In his combined PASL and MASL coaching career, Phil Salvagio has a regular-season record of 175-42 (.806%), and a playoff record of 26-11 (.703%). Salvagio was a goalkeeper for the Sockers from 1994-96 in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL).  

 

Ortiz, 52, was the top bench consultant to Phil Salvagio as the Sockers captured the 2021 Ron Newman Cup, going 6-1 through the playoffs while defeating Tacoma, Florida, and Ontario en route to the MASL championship. The season was an especially trying one for players and coaches, as all 17 games of the regular season and playoffs were played away from San Diego. It was Ortiz’s fourth top-division championship with the Sockers, having earned three rings as a player from 1988-90. In addition, Ortiz is the head coach of the Mexican National Indoor Soccer Team, having led the squad to a perfect 7-0 record and the 2019 WMF World Cup championship in Perth, Australia. Ortiz also reprises his role as the head coach of SDSockers2, where he led the club to a 12-0 record and the MASL2 championship in 2018-19.  

 

Luna, 41, was a four-time champion midfielder with the Sockers from 2009-16, before retiring and joining the front office as Director of Player Personnel, a job he has held for six seasons, and now General Manager. He joined his longtime friend Salvagio on the bench full-time in 2019-20, and begins his third year as an assistant coach. Luna is also the co-owner and president of CaliFino Tequila. 

 

Castaneda, a Sockers alum, has joined the Sockers as an assistant coach for the 2024/25 season.  He is also part of the Liverpool International Academy in SoCal, as Premier Program Director and Head Coach. Castaneda has been coaching for nearly two decades and was the long time Girls Director of Coaching at West Coast FC. 

 

The Sockers open their 2024-25 campaign on Saturday, December 7, facing the Tacoma Stars at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. The match begins at 6:05 p.m. PST and will stream live on MASL TV on YouTube. 

 

San Diego’s home opener will take place on Saturday, December 14, when they host Utica City FC at the newly unveiled Frontwave Arena. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at sdsockers.com/singlegame or frontwavearena.com.