More and more Americans have found employment as soccer players in Europe. But few coaches can say the same. Dan Gaspar, however, has managed a few successful stints coaching European teams, working as a goalkeeper coach with both FC Porto and Benfica in Portugal. Now, Gaspar is managing to work double-duty as coach of the University of Hartford men's team while also serving as a technical consultant to Portugal national team coach Carlos Queiroz.
"I get the chills when I think about it – he wanted me on a full-time basis," Gaspar said of Queiroz. "But I declined because of my job at Hartford. I said I could help periodically."
"I'm extremely proud to be an American-born coach and to have the opportunity to experience world-class players," Gaspar said. "It allows me the opportunity to come back to the States and share what I have learned. My players in Hartford have a lot of questions, about Ronaldo, Carvalho and others. And I have the opportunity to educate them about what it's like to be an elite player. I'm grateful to Hartford for allowing me the chance to grow and experience this."