Juan Arango Continues Legendary Playing Career as Player/Coach in UPSL Florida South with Hodler Miami FC
Legendary Venezuelan midfielder Juan Arango, widely regarded as the greatest soccer player in his country’s history, continues to write his football story in the United States. The former Bundesliga star has taken on a playing/coaching role with Hodler Miami FC, competing in the UPSL Florida South Premier Division. Arango not only plays for the Premier Division squad but also serves as the head coach of Hodler Miami FC’s Division 1 team, bringing decades of elite-level experience to the growing club.
Arango’s decorated career includes an impressive tenure at Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he made over 152 appearances between 2009 and 2014. Known for his extraordinary vision, set-piece mastery, and long-range shooting, he also featured in the UEFA Champions League with the German club. On the international stage, Arango earned 129 caps for Venezuela, serving as captain for much of his career and becoming a national icon known for elevating the profile of Venezuelan football globally.
Now in Miami, Arango’s impact is being felt both on and off the field. Hodler Miami FC co-owner Marcos Castillo emphasized the significance of Arango’s presence.
“Juan helps a lot with his experience on and off the field. His whole career and experience are something more than a regular coach can offer. The plan for him is to head coach the Division 1 team and play for the Premier Division team and help us continue to push for playoffs. He has been playing with us for almost three years, and always plays 90 minutes for us. He’s in fantastic shape,” Castillo shared.
As the club prepares to return to the UPSL for the Fall season, Castillo believes the club is primed for success. “The plan is to win everything—the conference and national playoffs. Three years ago, we went to the conference finals with the Prem squad and last year lost in penalties in the conference semi-finals.”
Arango’s leadership is expected to be a key factor in pushing the team to new heights this season. Founded just four years ago, Hodler Miami FC has quickly grown into a club with ambitious development goals.
“We are creating a full-rounded club; player analytics and providing a pathway college scholarships are a priority. We recently sold a player to the Venezuela First Division, so the plan is to continue to develop players, whether they want to study in college or play professionally. We want to continue to build our U19 team in Division 1 and our youth academy. We have a lot of close connections to professional soccer in Venezuela and are looking to provide a bridge to professional soccer there and back.”
To stay up to date on Hodler Miami FC in the UPSL Florida South Premier Division, visit https://premier.upsl.com. For information on how to join the United Premier Soccer League, go to www.upslregistration.com/application/team.
About United Premier Soccer League
The UPSL was formed in 2011 and occupies the unofficial fourth tier of US Soccer. Across its Premier, Division 1, Women and Academy divisions there are more than 600 teams competing nationwide. The UPSL is the largest Pro Development League in North America and is a National Affiliate member of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated. UPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the league’s affiliation with USSF. More information about UPSL can be found at www.upsl.com or by following the league on Facebook (facebook.com/upslsoccer), Instagram (@upslsoccer) and Twitter (@upslsoccer). Contact UPSL: [email protected] / Media: [email protected].