As if a professional soccer team coming to Northern Colorado wasn't exciting enough, Northern Colorado Hailstorm, set to debut in 2022, just announced Éamon Zayed as the first head coach for the organization.

Having a head coach with the nickname "Mr. Hat-Trick" is bound to get fans excited, but Zayed's resume speaks for himself. Ireland-born, Zayed played for Leicester City's reserve as a teenager, and then returned to play for Bray Wanderers Seagulls FC in 2002.

In 2003, he set the Seagulls' single-season record in goals with 19, a record that still stands to this day. He also holds the club's title for fastest hat-trick, scoring one in nine minutes.

Zayed spent 2006-2008 with Drogheda United and was the team's leading scorer in 2007. He then went to Sporting Fingal until 2010 and helped the team qualify for the Europa League twice in his time there. In 2011, Zayed was named the League of Ireland's top scorer with 22 goals that year.

After his time in the League of Ireland, Zayed signed with an Iranian Pro League team. In his debut, he came in as a substitue and scored a hat-trick to win the match after being down 2-0. Three more hat-tricks with the club later, he officially earned the nickname of "Mr. Hat-Trick".

In his time with the Bray Wanderers, Zayed made eight appearances for Libya at the senior level and appeared in a number of FIFA Men's World Cup qualifiers.

Zayed spent 2019 and 2020 with the Chattanooga Red Wolves as a player and assistant coach. He retired as a player in 2020, but had been working toward his UEFA "A" coaching license in the meantime.

"This is my first head coaching role, but I believe I am 100% ready for this role," said Zayed. "I think this role is absolutely perfect for me, and I genuinely cannot think of a better coaching role to get into."

The Future Legends Complex, coming in 2022, will be home to the Hailstorm. The team will join the Northern Colorado Owlz professional baseball team when the complex opens up.

 

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