Coach Charlie Naimo Expects Residents To See World Class Soccer in Palisades

Written by Steve Galluzzo, Sports Editor

All it takes is one look at Charlie Naimo to recognize how excited he is to be doing what he’s doing. Not only is he is the head coach of the Pali Blues, a new W-League expansion soccer team that will, as he said "bring world class soccer to Pacific Palisades," he has also embraced the community his team will call home.

"The whole setting here has a European feel to it," Naimo said. "Even if you’re not an avid fan, the fact that you’ll have a team of this caliber in your own backyard is pretty cool."

Naimo traveled across the country to take on his latest assignment--and that was part of the job’s appeal. After all, he’s always looking for a new challenge.

"One night I’m playing a men’s indoor game and I was chatting with another coach who suggested I get in touch with Ali [Mansouri] about this new team he was putting together," said Naimo, who grew up in New Jersey. "The rest, as they say, is history. Ali flew me and my girlfriend Tracy out here and we were impressed with the whole situation from day one."

Mansouri is co-owner of the Blues along with fellow Palisadian Rudy Bianchi and one of their first priorities was finding a top-level coach for their fledgling team, which will play its home games at Palisades High’s newly-renovated Stadium by the Sea.

"We believe Charlie possesses the skills to create a winning tradition for our club," Mansouri proclaimed. "His enthusiasm for the game is matched only by his record of success."

Over the last four seasons, Naimo’s teams have amassed a 53-3-0 regular season record. In his most recent stint he led Jersey Sky Blue to a 12-2 mark in the franchise’s first season. He expects the Blues’ inaugural campaign to be even more successful.

"This will be one of the best women’s teams in the world by May," Naimo predicted. "We have a future pro in every position and we’re very diverse. Half of the players are from California and the others are from all over who have played in the World Cup and the Olympics. It’s fantastic to be a part of this--it’s really rejuvenated me as a coach."

Naimo liked what he saw from the Blues in their very first game at Stadium by the Sea--a 1-1 tie against Beijing in an international friendly January 4.

"That night I was convinced that we can play with anyone," Naimo confessed. "We had about a 30-minute tactical discussion beforehand and that was it. We pretty much dominated. Chinese teams are very technical, very organized and on top of that they’d just finished their season so they were used to playing with each other an yet they couldn’t crack us."

In February, the Blues won the Silver Mug Tournament in Las Vegas, further bolstering Naimo’s belief that the sky’s the limit for his team’s success.

"We may lose a game but we won’t be outplayed this year," he said. "I’m not married to one system but I think we’ll be very methodical, very relentless. There’ll be some great combination passing and fans will get to see an attractive style of soccer."

Being from the East Coast, Naimo brings an "old school" mentality to his trade, one predicated on results.

"You’re not going to see too many smiles from me," Naimo promised. "Seven out of 10 wins I’m unhappy anyway. I think it’s critical’in soccer and in life’to always being learning lessons and the sooner you learn them, the better. My players are like family, yes, and sometimes they need tough love."

The Blues train 15 hours a week at the Santa Monica Airport fields. Playing well is important, but Naimo strives for greatness.

"The bottom line is that results are everything in the pros," he said. "The motto I adhere to is that you can’t let a win get to your head or a loss to your heart."

Naimo landed his first head coaching job with the Central Jersey Splash in 1998 and he was named W-League Coach of the Year in 1999. He demonstrated the ability to build a team from the ground up when he turned a struggling New Jersey Wildcats team into a powerhouse, compiling a 41-1-0 record and piloting the club to the W-League championship in 2005.

"Charlie has a wealth of experience working with players at all levels and has an unbelievable pool of players from which to draw," Pali Blues Director of Operations Kenzo Bergeron said. "The Southern California soccer culture will embrace him as a professional and hard working talent."

Naimo has not only made a commitment to the Blues, but to the Palisades as well.

"When Tracy and I first moved out here we were looking to buy a home," Naimo said. "But with the market being what it is Ali suggested we rent around here for awhile and we found a great condo right on Sunset that’s walking distance to the high school. We love with this place already, especially the village’we eat there everyday."

While Naimo takes pride in what he’s accomplished he prefers to look ahead, not behind. In fact, he’s bursting with anticipation for the Blues’ season opener May 10 against the Ventura County Fusion. Up next on the schedule, though, is a preseason game against USC on March 29 in Los Angeles.

"The reality is that I don’t miss home at all," Naimo said. "My experience with the Wildcats was wonderful but that’s in the past. I made a commitment to be here, I’m focused on making the Blues the best we can be and there’s no turning back."