Hayden Barbosa, Head Coach
Hayden Barbosa is head coach of GLUFC's professional-level National Premier Soccer League team. Hayden is a proud native of Lowell and son of former professional soccer player Manoel “Boom-Boom” Barbosa, a powerful striker who played for the likes of Clube Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro F.C. (Brazil), Aris F.C. (Greece), and Clube Universidad de Guaralajara (Mexico), as well as playing for the Boston Astros during the same era the legendary Pele played for the New York Cosmos.

Born with congenital talipes equinovarus, more commonly known as clubfeet, Hayden understands the meaning of adversity, dedication and hard work. Throughout his youth career, Hayden was formally trained to be a right back. Although he had the potential to develop into the striker his father was, Boom-Boom worried that given Hayden’s anatomic development, it might be better for him to play in the back, where he wouldn’t be tackled from behind.

During his time as a student-athlete at Dean College (Franklin, Mass.), and then Lasell College (Newton, Mass.), Hayden was twice named to the North Atlantic Conference all-conference first team and led Lasell to a NAC championship in 2002. The following year, Hayden participated in Lasell’s first-ever berth in the NCAA national championship tournament. That same year, he was chosen to play in the prestigious New England Intercollegiate Soccer League all-star game, where he competed with the top players from Divisions I, II and III in the Northeast Region.

As a youth Coach, Hayden has literally coached every age and level. As owner and director of Clubfoot Soccer Clinics, Hayden has provided professional instruction to players of all ages and levels through his camps, youth programs and club teams for more than 15 years in Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts.

Hayden’s collegiate coaching career started in 2011 at Lasell under head Coach Giovanni Pacini (Master Coach, NSCAA). While at Lasell, Hayden’s soccer knowledge reached new levels under Pacini’s guidance. This enabled Hayden to reach a deeper level of understanding of coaching the game. In Hayden’s first season with Lasell, the team finished 9-8-2. Unsettled with the record, Hayden launched his first recruiting season. The following year, the Lasers finished 15-4-1 and then 17-4-2 the year after that, while achieving regional rankings and graduating several all-conference and all-American players.

After a three-season stint at Lasell College, Hayden moved onto Daniel Webster College (Nashua, NH). A former Nashua High School athlete, he was elated by the opportunity to return to his former hometown to assist Coach Matt Correia, a childhood friend. Together, the two developed the most successful team in the history of the program. In the fall of 2014, the Eagles finished 15-6-1 and won the North Eastern Collegiate Conference championship, showcasing several all-conference and all-regional selections and several record breakers.

Hayden joined Greater Lowell United in its second season in the NPSL in 2015 as an assistant halfway through the season. With two games left in the season, he assumed the position of head coach, where he led the team to noticeable improvement. Under Hayden's leadership, GLUFC has launched an extensive search for top-notch players to compete in the professional-level NPSL.

Hayden is a proud member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) and holds several advanced diplomas. His educational background is in sports management and education, and he aspires to attain a master’s degree in recreation and sport sciences with a concentration in soccer coaching from Ohio University.