Vlora FC has announced its new coaching staff for the 2026 UPSL Men’s Premier Division season, starting with head coach Allan Segura. Segura previously coached the team in the early 2020’s and brings a resume of experience playing and coaching, including playing time at Costa Rican clubs AD Ramonense and Puntarenas FC and a run coaching at third division club AD Pozos De Santa Ana.
Segura spoke to the club in his first interview following his return, sharing what about Vlora has made him want to return to the head coaching position.
“I believe Vlora is a very important club for Minnesota. Vlora builds a competitive team every season and that is a very interesting opportunity for me as a coach,” Segura explained. “My first time coaching with Vlora, which was almost five years ago, was a huge experience for me. I’ve had the opportunity build a strong relationship with Adi and all the staff, so I’m excited for this opportunity to return. I want to grow alongside the club and I’m excited to already be working to prepare a competitive team for next spring.”
Segura added that he puts great value in the club’s ethos both on and off the pitch.
“I have always liked that the club brings in not just good players, but good people. That’s a very important value for me as well,” he said. “That is a big encouragement for me to develop my coaching career at Vlora again. … This club has a very good environment to work in and as a coach I have always felt welcome there, to work and grow. That’s why I am back. Vlora gives people the opportunity not just to coach or play or so on, but to be a part of their family. When the season is done, the relationship does not end.”
A big season awaits Vlora after a competitive 2025 saw them come short of the division title, but Segura has no doubt about the ambition and ability the club will bring into 2026.
“I always want to create a high standard, not just when we play or even in-season, but always. I always want to give the players the sense of a professional standard, to help them learn what that means,” Segura continued. “I like to bring new ideas and use meetings, big and small, to talk about ideas and show them ideas. I always want to be talking about what how we’ve been doing, what we’ve improved, what we’ve worked on over the week, and help them feel like, hey, this is a real team. I want them to feel like professionals, who are always thinking about the game, about values. … Our mission every week is to be in the top position. It will be tough, because there are other good teams, because there are always maybe injuries or need for rotation, but our mission is always to be the best and to show we are the best.”
Segura will be joined by a set of experienced assistant coaches, Noe Cuenca and Edwin Siguenza. Each will bring passion and dedication to the men’s premier team. Siguenza shared some early thoughts with Vlora as well, sharing his excitement for this new role.
“It was my devotion and love for football that made me come back. … This year my passion resurfaced and I decided to relive the emotions of football from the benches, and give priority and time to Vlora. Another reason that motivated me to choose this club is the opportunity that Vlora offers to all those multicultural people and a diversity of nationalities which have in common, the love of the practice of this sport, and, above all, I’ve arrived to to make new friends. … I would say that what I hope to achieve
with Vlora is to compete and win by interpreting in the best way a model of play on the soccer field, in which our players and teammates of the coaching staff are happy and enjoy what they do.”
