November 15, 2022 – United Soccer League One (USL1) – Lexington Sporting Club News Release
Lexington Sporting Club Assistant Coach Nacho Novo
(Lexington Sporting Club)
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club is thrilled to announce the hiring of Nacho Novo as an assistant coach of the United Soccer League (USL) League One team. He will also serve as head coach of Lexington’s U-23 team.
Hailing from Ferrol, Galacia, Novo played as a forward professionally for two decades, making stops all around the world, from Spain, to England, to Scotland-including a brief stint in America.
His most notable accomplishments were with Rangers FC, the most successful club in Scotland. It was with “The Gers” that Nacho would spend most of his career, and the Spaniard would eventually be inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2004, his first season at Ibrox, he put up 25 goals and led the team to a Scottish Premier League title and a Scottish League Cup. During the 2007 season, Novo would be a catalyst in helping his side defeat Glasgow neighbors Celtic in the Old Firm Derby-one of football’s most storied rivalries-by putting away two goals in a 3-0 victory.
Novo’s influence helped Rangers reach great heights outside of Scotland, as well, including a run to the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) finals in 2008. In the Round of 32, he scored in the final 10 minutes of the second leg against Panathinaikos in Athens, Greece, to push Rangers through on away goals. In the semifinals, he delivered the winning penalty in a shootout against Italian side Fiorentina, securing a spot in a European competition final for the fourth time in club history.
In 2009, he came on as a substitute in the Scottish Cup Final and scored in just 28 seconds as Rangers defeated Falkirk, 1-0. All told, he was part of five Cups titles and three Scottish Premier League championships. He also took part in the 2009/10 Champions League, scoring during the group stage against Sevilla.
“Not many times you have the chance to build something from scratch, so for me, it was an opportunity I could not turn down,” said Novo. “Everyone here, including the ownership, is very serious about what they want to do, making this a proper soccer team that connects with the community and does well.”
Starting his journey at his hometown club of Somozas, it was evident that he had talent from the beginning. From there, he would be scouted and picked up by Huesca, a large Spanish club, where he played from 1999-01 before…