Fernando Clavijo

Fernando Clavijo (born January 23, 1956 in Maldonado, Uruguay) is a former American soccer defender and now coach, currently the head coach of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

Clavijo immigrated to the United States in 1979 and spent most of the 1980s playing indoor soccer in the MISL, where he was one of the top players in the league's history. He played outdoor as well, and became a key member of the U.S. national team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Clavijo's coaching career started indoors as well, in 1995 with the Seattle Seadogs of the CISL. He then assisted ex-US coach Bora Milutinovic with the Nigerian national team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He followed Bora to Major League Soccer as well, assisting him with the MetroStars in 1999, the worst season for any team in league history. He left the club after the year, assuming head coaching duties with the New England Revolution, but was fired midway through the 2002 season after not much success.

In 2003, Clavijo was named the head coach of the Haitian national team, and led them through World Cup Qualifying, left his post after they lost to Jamaica. He was hired to coach the Rapids on December 22, 2004. In recognition of his contributions to American soccer, he was elected into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005.