1994-96
The son of USL Hall of Fame Coach and Builder Buzz Lagos, Manny went on to a solid career in Major League Soccer. Lagos won the 1994 USL MVP honor with 18 goals and nine assists as he led the team to a nearly perfect season, falling in the championship match in a shootout after an 18-0 season with five more wins and a shootout loss in the playoffs. The Thunder went professional the following year and went 19-1 on the season and fell in the championship game for the second straight year. Lagos had 20 goals and 10 assists. Lagos was signed in June of 1996 as a discovery player by the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) and went on to play for five teams in the league. He joined Chicago in 1998 and moved onto Tampa Bay midseason of 1999 before landing in San Jose (2001), where he would help lead the team to MLS Cup titles in 2001 and 2003. He was traded to Columbus in 2004. He has played over 130 regular season games and has surpassed 20 goals and assists each. Lagos retired from professional play after 2005, his 10th year in MLS, returning to the Thunder in an administrative capacity. Lagos made three appearances for the US National Team from 2001-03.