Charles Trout (born 20 April 1985) is an Englishfootball manager and former player who manages thePuerto Rico national football team.
Released fromLincoln City without a first-team appearance, he played in theConference North forGainsborough Trinity, where he suffered from injury. He moved to the United States to playcollege soccer for theUIC Flames.
Trout stayed inChicago to coach youths, and in 2021 was hired byDave Sarachan to oversee thePuerto Rico under-20 team. When Sarachan resigned in March 2023, Trout succeeded him as manager of the senior team.
Trout was born inNottingham and raised in a council estate inClifton, and became a fan ofNottingham Forest. When he was 11 and representing theNottinghamshire County Football Association's boys' team, he was scouted for Leeds United, but did not advance through the youth system.[1]
Trout then signed forLincoln City on an apprenticeship. He was given a first-team squad number and trained with the professionals, but was released at age 19 without playing a game. He then signed forGainsborough Trinity of the sixth-tierConference North while working in other jobs during the week. He was sidelined for eight months with a hamstring injury picked up againstKettering Town in theFA Trophy, and recurring injuries afterwards meant that he gave up on finding a way back into professional football in England.[1]
Having previously rejected the chance to play in the United States, Trout had a trial for theUIC Flames of theUniversity of Illinois Chicago. He initially wanted to stay in England after returning during the severe winters ofThe Windy City, but remained and completed his degree.[1]
Trout had helped coach the youth teams at Lincoln, and became involved with inner-city youth teams inChicago, with several of his players joining the academy ofChicago Fire SC. During theCOVID-19 pandemic, he turned down jobs at other clubs and began his own coaching business.[1]
In 2021, AmericanDave Sarachan became manager of thePuerto Rico national football team and enlisted Trout as an assistant for the under-20 team.[1] Sarachan resigned with promotion fromLeague C of theCONCACAF Nations League already secured, and Trout was named in charge on 19 March 2023, four days ahead of the next fixture away to theBritish Virgin Islands.[2] The side won his debut 3–1 inRoad Town.[3]
Trout led Puerto Rico in2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification inFlorida, defeatingSuriname on penalties in the first round before falling 2–0 toMartinique in the final.[4] In the2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B, his team came second of four, behindGuyana,[5] while thefollowing season saw the same result behind aHaiti team with a 100% record; Puerto Rico did not finish as one of the best runners-up to advance to the nextCONCACAF Gold Cup qualification.[6] Inqualification for the2026 FIFA World Cup, Puerto Rico advanced to the second round and remained in contention to go further, but a draw between Suriname andEl Salvador on the final day meant those two teams advanced.[7]
As manager of Puerto Rico, Trout has fielded young players including those still incollege soccer in the United States, as it is common for players in their mid-20s to leave football for a more stable or well-paying profession. He commented that some of his opponents such as Suriname could call upon professionals from the DutchEredivisie or Spain'sLa Liga.[1]