EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Junior Gonzalez was introduced as the new head coach of El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park on Tuesday.

Gonzalez brings 25 years of coaching experience in Major League Soccer, USL Championship, and MLS Next Pro.

Junior is a modern-day coach with extreme experience,” new general manager and president Mike DiGiulio said. “He is a rare find there. You also just meet someone and know that it is someone you can go to battle with.

Gonzalez takes over a Locomotive squad that is coming off a first-round playoff exit. Gonzalez noted the team already excels in attacking areas, so his first goal is to improve the defensive side of the game.

“We need to be more stable on the defensive side,” Gonzalez said he told the team. “We need to travel more compactly up and down the field, so that we are in better positions to counter-press and impede our opponents’ progression to goal.”

The Locos will kick off the 2026 season on March 7th against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

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