{{short description|Colombian footballer and coach (born 1967)}} {{family name hatnote|Cabrera|Linares|lang=Spanish}} {{Expand Spanish|topic=bio|Wilmer Cabrera|date=March 2017}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Wílmer Cabrera | image = Houston Dynamo players tren 2016 (4).jpg | caption = Cabrera in 2016 | full_name = Wílmer Cabrera Linares | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|9|15}} | birth_place = Cartagena, Colombia | height = 1.79 m | position = Right-back | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1985–1989 | years2 = 1990–1997 | years3 = 1997–1998 | years4 = 1998 | years5 = 1999 | years6 = 1999–2000 | years7 = 2001 | years8 = 2001–2004 | years9 = 2004–2005 | clubs1 = Santa Fe | clubs2 = América de Cali | clubs3 = Independiente | clubs4 = Millonarios | clubs5 = Santa Fe | clubs6 = Tolima | clubs7 = Chicó | clubs8 = Herediano | clubs9 = Long Island Rough Riders | caps1 = 61 | caps2 = 307 | caps3 = 12 | caps4 = 15 | caps5 = 25 | caps6 = 10 | caps7 = ? | caps8 = 15 | caps9 = 25 | goals1 = 22 | goals2 = 33 | goals3 = 2 | goals4 = 5 | goals5 = 17 | goals6 = 3 | goals7 = ? | goals8 = 6 | goals9 = 4 | totalcaps = 470 | totalgoals = 92 | nationalyears1 = 1989–1998 | nationalteam1 = Colombia | nationalcaps1 = 48 | nationalgoals1 = 3 | manageryears1 = 2005–2006 | manageryears2 = 2006–2007 | manageryears3 = 2007 | manageryears4 = 2007–2012 | manageryears5 = 2012–2014 | manageryears6 = 2014 | manageryears7 = 2015–2016 | manageryears8 = 2016–2019 | manageryears9 = 2019 | manageryears10 = 2021–2023 | manageryears11 = 2024–2025 | managerclubs1 = Suffolk Sharks (assistant) | managerclubs2 = B.W. Gottschee | managerclubs3 = United States U18 | managerclubs4 = United States U17 | managerclubs5 = Colorado Rapids (assistant) | managerclubs6 = Chivas USA | managerclubs7 = Rio Grande Valley Toros | managerclubs8 = Houston Dynamo | managerclubs9 = Montreal Impact | managerclubs10 = Rio Grande Valley Toros | managerclubs11 = El Paso Locomotive }} '''Wílmer Cabrera Linares''' (born September 15, 1967) is a Colombian former football defender who was most recently the head coach of El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship. He previously coached for Chivas USA and Houston Dynamo, as well as the United States men's national under-17 soccer team. During his playing career, Cabrera played as a right back for clubs in the Colombian league and the Colombia national team, representing the country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
==Club career== Cabrera, born in Cartagena, Colombia, and raised in Bogotá, made his professional debut at the age of 17 for Santa Fe.<ref name="USBio">{{cite web |date=October 25, 2007 |title=Wilmer Cabrera Biography |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/11/37/wilmer-cabrera-biography |publisher=U.S. Soccer |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref> His 18-year playing career<ref name="USBio" /> included stints at América de Cali (reaching the 1996 Copa Libertadores Final), Millonarios, Chicó, Independiente of Argentina, Herediano of Costa Rica and the Long Island Rough Riders of the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Duque Soto |first=Leonardo |date=August 13, 2010 |title="Me interesa que mi trabajo se vea en Colombia", afirmó Wilmer Cabrera |url=http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-7861160 |work=El Tiempo |language=es |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref>
==International career== Cabrera was capped 48 times and scored 3 international goals for Colombia between 1989 and 1998.<ref name="USBio"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/col-recintlp.html |title=Colombia – Record International Players |website=RSSSF |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref> He was an unused substitute during the 1990 FIFA World Cup but played in all of the country's three matches in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |last=Dart |first=Tom |date=March 17, 2017 |title=Wilmer Cabrera, loyal lieutenant in Colombia's dream team, thriving in MLS |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/17/wilmer-cabrera-houston-dynamo-colombia |work=The Guardian |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref> He also played in four Copa América competitions in 1989, 1991, 1995 and 1997.
==Coaching career== After retiring, Cabrera settled permanently in the United States to pursue work as a helicopter pilot in the New York City area. He began working with the Major League Soccer front office as a community development manager working on Hispanic grassroots and youth programs. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Suffolk County Community College men's soccer team as well as top-ranked youth soccer club B.W. Gottschee, based in Queens, New York.<ref name="Dynamo">{{cite press release |date=October 28, 2016 |title=Houston Dynamo appoint Wilmer Cabrera as head coach |url=https://www.houstondynamo.com/post/2016/10/28/houston-dynamo-appoint-wilmer-cabrera-head-coach |publisher=Houston Dynamo |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref>
Cabrera earned his United States Soccer Federation A Coaching License in 2005 and became an assistant coach with the United States men's national under-18 soccer team in 2007.<ref name="USBio"/> He was named by the USSF as head coach of the United States men's national under-17 soccer team on October 25, 2007, becoming the first Latin American head coach in the U.S. national team system.<ref name="Guardian"/> On January 24, 2012, he was replaced in this role by Richie Williams.<ref name="Dynamo"/>
In January 2012, Cabrera was named assistant coach for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/01/cabrera-caffrey-join-parejas-coaching-staff |title=Cabrera, Caffrey join Pareja's coaching staff |publisher=Colorado Rapids |date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109225709/http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/01/cabrera-caffrey-join-parejas-coaching-staff |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In January 2014, Chivas USA appointed Cabrera as head coach.<ref>{{cite news |last=Peltz |first=Jim |date=January 9, 2014 |title=Chivas USA names Colorado assistant Wilmer Cabrera as head coach |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2014/jan/09/sports/la-sp-sn-chivas-usa-coach-20140109 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917001138/http://articles.latimes.com/2014/jan/09/sports/la-sp-sn-chivas-usa-coach-20140109 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2014 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> The club was dissolved by the league at the end of the season, with Cabrera's team finishing seventh in the Western Conference, the highest finish for Chivas USA in their final five seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roepken |first=Corey |date=October 29, 2016 |title=Wilmer Cabrera recovered from Chivas USA debacle |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Recovered-from-Chivas-USA-debacle-Wilmer-Cabrera-10422504.php |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref>
Cabrera was named head coach of the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the United Soccer League on December 2, 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aguirre |first=Mario |date=December 2, 2015 |title=Wilmer Cabrera named RGV FC Toros coach |url=http://www.themonitor.com/sports/wilmer-cabrera-named-rgv-fc-toros-coach/article_6e96ad10-9926-11e5-aa0e-e7d4bdc444cf.html |work=The Monitor |location=McAllen, Texas |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref>
Cabrera was named head coach of the Houston Dynamo on October 28, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Roepken |first=Corey |date=October 28, 2016 |title=Dynamo introduce coach Wilmer Cabrera with hopes of bringing back club's winning ways |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Dynamo-introduce-coach-Wilmer-Cabrera-with-hopes-10421209.php |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref> He and the Dynamo parted ways on August 13, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Glynn A. |date=August 13, 2019 |title=Dynamo part ways with coach Wilmer Cabrera |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Dynamo-part-ways-with-coach-Wilmer-Cabrera-14302107.php |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=August 13, 2019}}</ref>
Cabrera became head coach of the Montreal Impact on August 21, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/montreal-impact-fire-head-coach-remi-garde-hire-wilmer-cabrera-as-replacement-1.1354053 |title=Impact fire head coach Garde; hire Cabrera |publisher=TSN |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> On October 24, 2019, the Impact announced that his contract would not be renewed for the 2020 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.impactmontreal.com/en/post/2019/10/24/wilmer-cabrera-will-not-return-montreal-impact|title=Wilmer Cabrera will not return with the Montreal Impact|access-date=24 October 2019|publisher=Montreal Impact}}</ref>
Cabrera was named head coach of El Paso Locomotive on May 20, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Huichapa |first1=Alberto |title=El Paso Locomotive FC Appoint Wilmer Cabrera as New Head Coach |url=https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news/2024/05/20/el-paso-locomotive-fc-appoint-wilmer-cabrera-as-new-head-coach/ |website=EPLocomotiveFC.com |publisher=El Paso Locomotive |access-date=20 May 2024}}</ref> The announcement came just days after El Paso announced that they had parted ways with then-manager Brian Clarhaut.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Horyczun |first1=Kelly |title=El Paso Locomotive parts way with head coach Brian Clarhaut following loss to Memphis |url=https://www.ktsm.com/sports/locomotive-fc-soccer/el-paso-locomotive-parts-way-with-head-coach-brain-clarhaut-following-loss-to-memphis/ |website=KTSM.com |date=May 18, 2024 |publisher=KTSM-TV |access-date=20 May 2024}}</ref> On November 3 2025, El Paso announced that his contract would not be renewed for the 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Paso Locomotive FC Announces Departure of Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera |url=https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/news/2025/11/03/el-paso-locomotive-fc-announces-departure-of-head-coach-wilmer-cabrera/ |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=El Paso Locomotive FC |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Managerial statistics== {{updated|match played 5 April 2024}}{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Managerial record by team and tenure |- ! rowspan="2" |Team ! rowspan="2" |Nat ! rowspan="2" |From ! rowspan="2"|To ! colspan="8" |Record |- !{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} |- |align=left|Chivas USA |{{Flagicon|USA}} |align=left|9 January 2014 |align=left|26 October 2014 {{WDL|35|9|7|19|for=30|against=62|diff=yes}} |- |align=left|Rio Grande Valley FC Toros |{{Flagicon|USA}} |align=left|2 December 2015 |align=left|28 October 2016 {{WDL|31|14|9|8|for=49|against=27|diff=yes}} |- |align=left|Houston Dynamo |{{Flagicon|USA}} |align=left|28 October 2016 |align=left|13 August 2019 {{WDL|112|42|25|45|for=181|against=169|diff=yes}} |- |align=left|Montreal Impact |{{Flagicon|CAN}} |align=left|21 August 2019 |align=left|24 October 2019 {{WDL|9|3|1|5|for=9|against=11|diff=yes}} |- |align=left|Rio Grande Valley FC Toros |{{Flagicon|USA}} |align=left|20 February 2021 |align=left|21 November 2023 {{WDL|72|28|18|26|for=49|against=42|diff=yes}} |- |align=left|El Paso Locomotive |{{Flagicon|USA}} |align=left|24 May 2024 |align=left|3 November 2025 {{WDL|25|9|6|10|for=43|against=56|diff=yes}} |- !colspan="4"|Total {{WDLtot|294|105|76|113|for=361|against=367|diff=yes}} |}
==Honours== '''Player'''
'''Independiente Santa Fe''' *Copa Colombia: 1989
'''América de Cali''' *Categoría Primera A: 1990, 1992, 1996–97
'''Coach'''
'''Houston Dynamo''' *U.S. Open Cup: 2018
'''Montreal Impact''' *Canadian Championship: 2019
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{NFT player|13688}}
{{Navboxes | title = Managerial positions | list1 = {{Chivas USA managers}} {{Houston Dynamo managers}} {{Montreal Impact managers}} {{El Paso Locomotive FC managers}}
}} {{Navboxes colour |title=Colombia squads | bg=#FCD116 | fg=#003893 | bordercolor=#CE1126 |list1= {{Colombia squad 1989 Copa América}} {{Colombia Squad 1990 World Cup}} {{Colombia Squad 1991 Copa América}} {{Colombia Squad Copa America 1995}} {{Colombia Squad Copa América 1997}} {{Colombia Squad 1998 World Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cabrera, Wilmer}} Category:1967 births Category:1989 Copa América players Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players Category:1991 Copa América players Category:1995 Copa América players Category:1997 Copa América players Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players Category:América de Cali footballers Category:Argentine Primera División players Category:Boyacá Chicó F.C. footballers Category:21st-century Colombian sportsmen Category:C.S. Herediano footballers Category:Categoría Primera A players Category:Chivas USA head coaches Category:Club Atlético Independiente footballers Category:Colombia men's international footballers Category:Colombia men's under-20 international footballers Category:Colombian expatriate men's footballers Category:Colombian football managers Category:Colombian men's footballers Category:Colorado Rapids non-playing staff Category:Deportes Tolima footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Costa Rica Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Independiente Santa Fe footballers Category:Living people Category:Long Island Rough Riders players Category:Major League Soccer head coaches Category:Millonarios F.C. players Category:USL Second Division players Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Houston Dynamo FC head coaches Category:Rio Grande Valley FC Toros coaches Category:CF Montréal head coaches Category:Footballers from Cartagena, Colombia Category:El Paso Locomotive FC coaches