USL Championship
Zach Zandi retires, moves into technical staff role with Switchbacks
After suffering a concussion last season, West Chester, Pa. native Zach Zandi made the difficult decision to retire from professional soccer but isn’t going far, transitioning into a technical staff role with Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
Zandi, a Philadelphia Union Academy and Penn Fusion alum who played with Philadelphia Union II before joining the Switchbacks in 2021, is now the team’s head scout & technical development coach. Zandi made 98 appearances in Colorado Springs, scoring 14 goals and dishing eight assists while logging more than 6,781 minutes across all competitions.
“This club, this city, and this community have given me more than I could ever put into words. I’m proud of what we built together, and I’m incredibly grateful to every teammate, coach, staff member, and supporter who was a part of my journey,” Zandi said in a news release. “While I’m stepping away from playing, I’m excited to continue helping push the club forward in a different role.”
Zandi spent two seasons with Philadelphia Union II after graduating from Villanova University. He played in USL League Two with Reading United over the summers when he was at Villanova.
“Zandi coming onto the staff makes us immediately stronger. He will lead our scouting department and work with our players on an individual basis,” Switchbacks head coach Alan McCann, who also coached Zandi at Reading United, said in a news release. “His football IQ is elite, so although he won’t be on the field, he will still be able to have a huge impact on the team this year.”
