As a player and coach Joe Manso’s name has been synonymous with soccer success for a long time. A USSF licensed, highly skilled, and experienced head coach and trainer, Joe possesses a thorough understanding of the game of soccer at all competitive levels.
He is a dynamic, disciplined and motivational leader of successful teams regardless of the age group. His skills and knowledge can serve to facilitate the creation, development and growth of a high level of quality and success on the field.
He was Assistant Coach at N.J. Instituted of Technology from 1991-94, and prior to that was Assistant Coach at Essex County College from 1989-91. he obtained his United States Soccer Federation ‘C’ license in September, 1991 and has been active in soccer since 1972.
Coach of the Year in the Region I Champions League in 2006-07 and 2007-08, Joe was named Sports Figure of the Year on Portugal Day in 2001. He was nominated for National Coach of the Year in 200 and 2006 after being Region I’s top coach both years and Coach of the Year by the N.J. Soccer Association in 2000.
A licensed Read Estated Agent with Exit Realty Lucky Associates, Joe served in the U.S. Army 171st Aviation Company, receiving an Honorable Discharge.
He led F.C. Porto to four L.I.S.A. Titles (1989-90, 1990-91 – undefeated, 1991-92 and 1996-97), as well as winning 3 L.I.S.A. Cups and being champion of the Charlie Stillitano Indoor Tournament in 1992. A two time winner of the Champions Cup (91/92), three-time finalist in the N.J. National Open Cup and a three-time finalist in the N.J. National Amateur Cup, Joe’s team also was champion of the state Super Cup (1990-91). With Sports Club Portuguese, Joe’s team was Champions League Region I champions five years in a row and six out of seven seasons (2003-10). They also were GSSL Super Division Champions in 2011-12 and have been New Jersey’s National Amateur Cup winner in 2006-07, 2008-09, and 2009-10 when they were Region I finalist versus Massachusetts. In the National Open Cup in 2003-04 they were Region I finalist against Maryland three time. His team were the Champions League Metro Stars Cup winners in 2000 and played at Giants Stadium, and were runners up in the Champions League three times in a row (1998-2001) and were State Super Cup winner in 1997-98. Champion of the Newark International Tournament in 1987 when they defeated Marialvas F.C., a 2nd division team from Portugal. Joe’s teams won the Schaeffer Soccer League Super Division with an undefeated season in 1972-73, and were a power in the Inter-State (NY/NJ) Division facing the best six teams from Italian American League in 1982-83 and 1983-84. In the last four years, four former Sport Club players have gone on to play pro soccer overseas. Playing in Poland is D. Nascimento, in Malta is J. Bilbao, in Costa Rica is E. Bilbao, and playing in Portugal is R. Crisostomo. Joe’s former players who went on to be college coaches are Kevin East, the current head coach at Rutgers-Newark, Brian Santowski, the former head coach at Montclair State, Dave Masur, the current head coach at St. Johns, Pedro Lopes, the former head coach at NJIT, Chris Da Silve who was ex-Head Coach and New Jersey City College and played for the Metro Stars and is now with the Red Bulls coaching staff, Altimont (Freddy) Butler, who was a former player with MLS San Jose and Columbus and currently assistant coach in Norway’s First Division, and Pascal Clerigo the assistant at Kean. The Luso-American Soccer Club teams Joe Manso was associated with in the 1970s excelled in the Schaeffer Soccer League. His L.I.S.A. Select Team won 40 games in a span of 3 years, with only the loss to Portugal’s second division team Desportive De Goveia.
In 1992 the U-23 team that toured Portugal and played 2nd and 3rd division teams won six of seven matches. His Northeastern Super League All-Star team posted a win over the Italian Amateur National team, and his Newark All-Star Team beat the National Amateur Team of Ireland in 1982, the Monteal All-Stars in Newark and in Canada in 1979.
