Wilmer Cabrera was named head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team in the fall of 2007, and has since guided the team twice through a successful qualifying campaign and a Round of 16 appearance at the 2009 and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The former Colombian international is a veteran of two FIFA World Cups, being named to the roster in 1990 and playing in three matches in France in 1998, while missing out on the 1994 tournament with a knee injury. He earned 48 caps as a defender during nine years with the national team.

He also represented Colombia at two FIFA U-20 World Cups (1985 in the Soviet Union and 1987 in Chile). After being selected to the ’85 roster at just 17 years old, Cabrera started all three games for Columbia two years later.

Cabrera, who earned his USSF A Coaching License in 2005, was been a member of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team before joining the U-17 program, serving as an assistant under former U-18 MNT coach Bob Jenkins.

From 2005 to 2007, Cabrera coached at the U-17/18 level at the prestigious B/W Gottschee in Ridgewood, N.Y., one of the original 62 clubs chosen as an inaugural member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

Cabrera began his professional career at Santa Fe de Bogotá in Colombia in 1985 at age 17. He went on to play professionally for 18 years in Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica, highlighted by eight years with Colombia’s America de Cali. He was also a founding member of Chico Futbol Club in the mid-1990s, serving as the team’s first coach and helping guide them to promotion to the first division after just two years.

In 2003, Cabrera moved to the United States and played for two years with the United Soccer League’s Long Island Rough Riders. He also worked in an administrative role at Major League Soccer, contributing to the growth of the sport through his position as Manager of Fan Development. In that position he served as the spokesperson for MLS Futbolito and Verano MLS, two programs aimed at grassroots development of soccer in the United States.

In his international career, Cabrera played against the United States in four official games, appearing as a sub on April 22, 1990, and July 31, 1992, both 1-0 victories for Colombia. He also started and played the full 90 minutes against the U.S. in a 0-0 draw on June 25, 1995, a memorable game that concluded the 1995 Nike U.S. Cup. He also went the distance in 4-1 win for Colombia at the 1995 Copa America that denied the U.S. a third-place finish.