Bayamon, Puerto Rico (December 8, 2011) – The Puerto Rico Islanders announced today that Adrian Whitbread will be the new head coach for the Orange Troop. Per league policy details of the transaction are not disclosed.

“We are excited to promote Adrian to be the head coach of the Puerto Rico Islanders.  He has the experience both at the NASL level as well as the CONCACAF level to continue to steer this team in the right direction,” said Andres Guillemard, President of the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Whitbread was hired in 2008 as the Puerto Rico Islanders assistant coach. That same year, the Islanders managed to win a place in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League with victories over powerhouse like LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica, CD Marathon of Honduras, Santos Laguna and Cruz Azul of Mexico. Whitbread, along with ex head coach Colin Clarke, during the 2010 season, the club defeated the now MLS Champions LA Galaxy in the CONCACAF Champions League. The club has also won the 2010 USSF D2 Championship and back-to-back CFU Championships in 2009 and 2010.

Adrian Whitbread played professional soccer in England on teams like Leyton Orient, Swindon Town, West Ham United, Portsmouth, Luton Town, Reading and Exeter City. Since 2003 until 2007, Whitbread was the Assistant Coach for several teams in England including Barnet, Brentford, MK Dons, and Leicester City. In 2008 he was named the assistant coach for the Puerto Rico Islanders until 2011. It is official that Whitbread will now take over as the next Head Coach for the Puerto Rico Islanders. 

“I am delighted to be announced as the head coach of the Puerto Rico Islanders, the work starts today and I am ready to work. I am very thankful to the board of directors and the previous coach Colin Clarke, and I want to say to all the fans, we will work tirelessly to continue the tradition of winning,” said Adrian Whitbread Head Coach Puerto Rico Islanders