From the streets of Dublin to stadiums across four continents, Éamon Zayed has built a life defined by the beautiful game of soccer. The former professional footballer turned head coach has played and led teams in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America, absorbing a world’s worth of philosophies along the way.
Now, Zayed brings that global perspective to Corpus Christi FC as the club’s first-ever head coach and sporting director, charged with shaping its professional identity ahead of its 2026 debut in USL League One. Drawn by founder Dr. Kingsley Okonkwo’s ambitious vision for the club and the Coastal Bend community, Zayed arrives ready to build something lasting both on and off the pitch, and help shape a new chapter for the sport in South Texas.
Kylie Cooper: Most recently, you led Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC through impressive growth and playoff runs. What lessons or takeaways from that experience are you bringing to Corpus Christi FC?
Éamon Zayed: Just like Northern Colorado Hailstorm, we will be building Corpus Christi FC from the ground up. On the pitch, we had great success in Colorado, breaking numerous records and winning the inaugural Jägermeister Cup in 2024. However, that success didn’t happen overnight; we grew it strategically over three years. I plan to utilize that experience to help grow a sustainable, successful club here in Corpus Christi.
KC: As head coach and sporting director, what’s your vision for this new professional era of Corpus Christi FC?
ÉZ: My vision is both short- and long-term. In the short term, I’d like to accomplish putting together a team that the city will be proud of. We want to be competitive in USL League One from day one. My long-term vision is to grow the club and have it consistently be successful in the league. I would like Corpus Christi to be a place where players want to come to develop and further their playing careers. Alongside a successful first team, I want to grow the Corpus Christi FC academy to be one of the best academies in Texas and give young players in our community a realistic pathway to professional soccer.
KC: In your experience, what does having a professional league mean for a city?
ÉZ: Professional soccer has that magical ability to bring the community together. It gives the community something to be proud of, support and engage in. It also welcomes professional soccer teams and fans from all over the United States to visit Corpus Christi and enjoy everything this city has to offer.
KC: How do you plan to engage with the local community as the team develops its fan base and presence?
ÉZ: Actions speak louder than words; I plan to get out and be involved with the community as much as possible. My wife is a school teacher, so getting out to schools with the players, having fun and getting the young community excited is what it is all about. Having a team that the community supports and is excited for is vital to the success of the team.
KC: With the inaugural professional season set for 2026, what’s your immediate focus for preparation?
ÉZ: With six to seven brand-new franchises coming for 2026, there is high competition from other clubs for signing players. My immediate focus is on putting together a roster of players that will compete from day one and have a strong winning mentality.
KC: What’s your coaching philosophy, and how would you describe the type of environment you want to create for your players?
ÉZ: I would say I take a more holistic approach with my players. I am a “players’ coach.” I like to create an environment where players are freely able to express themselves, but challenge themselves to be better and get better every single day. I like to create a competitive environment in training, which challenges players to be on their toes every day and want to win in all aspects of life.
KC: You’ve lived and worked in many places. What excites you most about calling Corpus Christi home?
ÉZ: I’ve never been afraid to travel, explore and embrace new cultures. From my little experience with Corpus, the community has been very welcoming. Everyone has been extremely kind and helpful, and it’s always the people that make a new place feel like home.
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Become a founding member of Corpus Christi FC and purchase season tickets now. The team makes its professional debut on March 21, 2026.
Contact: corpuscfc.com | @corpuscfc | 361.214.3236
