Tab Ramos is heading to the Lone Star State…

The 43-year-old Uruguayan former soccer player and coach has been named the next coach of the Houston Dynamo, the Major League Soccer club has announced.

Ramos is a decorated and celebrated former member of the United States national team, who had been the head coach of the United States Under-20 national team since 2011.

“I’m excited to join the Houston Dynamo organization and I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading this group of players,” Ramos said in a team statement.

“This is a club that has winning in its DNA, a club with a clear vision for the future centered around development and a team-first mentality, and Houston is a city that has tremendous untapped potential as a soccer market, both on and off the field. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Under his direction, the U20s made the quarterfinals of the World Cupthree straight times. 

And Houston can expect Ramos to have a keen eye towards youth development for the MLS club.

“I am incredibly excited that we were able to bring a coach with Tab’s resume and background in to lead our team,” said Dynamo controlling owner Gabriel Brener. “He has a deep understanding of the needs, wants, goals and challenges that our players face, having been an elite player himself; and he has a deep understanding of how to develop young players from his tenure with the Under-20 national team. Most importantly, we believe he will be a great fit within the club culture that we are working to create on and off the pitch.”

The Dynamo have failed to make the postseason each of the past two seasons, although they did win the U.S. Open Cupin 2018 under former coach Wilmer Cabrera, whowas let go by Houston after a string of poor results earlier this season.

Ramos had eight goals in 81 international appearances and played for the U.S. in the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cups, the 1995 Copa America and the 1988 Seoul Games. He was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Famein 2005.

Ramos was the first player signed to play in the MLS in 1995. He made 121 appearances for the New York/New Jersey Metrostars from 1996-2002 and became a three-time MLS All-Star.