Juan José Chang


Juan José Chang Urrea is a football manager who manages the Samoa women's national football team. Born in Germany, he was a Guatemala youth international, and in 2024 he became the first ever head coach to lead Samoa — men or women — to a FIFA World Cup.

Life and career

Chang was born on 17 November 1987 in Heidelberg, Germany. He was born to a Salvadoran father of Croatian descent and a Guatemalan mother of Chinese descent. He has four siblings. He has been a Christian. He attended Oral Roberts University in the United States. He played for their soccer team. In 2009, he signed for American side Cascade Surge. In 2010, he signed for American side Rochester Thunder. In 2011, he signed for Guatemalan side Antigua. He helped the club achieve promotion. In 2012, he signed for Guatemalan side Aurora.
In 2015, he signed for New Zealand side Western Suburbs. He was described as "seen as the 'odd one out'" upon arrival to New Zealand. After that, he signed for New Zealand side Canterbury United.In 2019, he was appointed manager of New Zealand women's side Coastal Spirit. He coached the women's team win the local league and cup multiple times, as well as the South Island Championship once. During his tenure, he was named Mainland Football Coach of the Year four consecutive times — a record in the region. He was also recognized internationally, winning the IFFHS World's Best Club Coach OFC award in 2021.
In 2023, he was appointed manager of the Samoa women's national football team. He helped the Samoa women's national under-17 football team achieve qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. He also guided the Samoa women's national under-20 football team to a bronze medal at the 2023 OFC U-19 Women's Championship. Lastly, he helped the Samoa women's senior national team secure their first-ever medal at the Women's Nations Cup in 2025.

Honours

Managerial

Coastal Spirit

Individual

  • Mainland Football Women's Team Coach of the Year: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
  • IFFHS World's Best Club Coach OFC: 2021