Acquisition of Stoitchkov Finalized

[Flying Weasel]

D.C. United Acquires Hristo Stoitchkov from Fire
Legendary Player Also Assumes Assistant Coaching Role
January 27, 2003
http://www.dcunited.com/index.cfm?section=main&cont_id=160428
CHANTILLY, VA - D.C. United today finalized a trade with the Chicago Fire that brings forward Hristo Stoitchkov to the club. In return, United has given Chicago its second round pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. United has announced that in addition to his role on the pitch as a player, Stoitchkov will also serve as the club's second assistant coach for the 2003 season.

[galperin]

Is he worth anything as a coach?

[Sachin]

According to Wolff, Kovalenko and Beasley, yes.

I think he took all three under his wing while in Chicago.

Sachin

[PumaJohnny]

It didn't cost us much to bring him here. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[DigitalTron]

I don't know his salary cap number, and we can only speculate on his number of lost games from injury, but he's here now, he truly is a lion-hearted player, and I'll support him 100%.

With Stewart, Santino, Eskandarian and possibly Curtis all here, I guess Stoichkov is truly a sub. In that role (when healthy) he can be very effective. Hristo can score, and that was/is our problem.

But I wonder how Etch feels about naming Hristo as a player/coach? Clearly Etch has done more in the past, and more last year than Stoichkov, and it seems that Etch was never considered for a player/coach position.

Hopefully, everyone will get along this season. With the additions of Petke, Kovalenko, Stoichkov, Stewart and Eskandarian, we have added a lot of egos. I have faith that Hudson can blend and appease them all, but it surely will not be a quiet locker room.

Welcome to United Hristo!

-Tron

[Sachin]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
I don't know his salary cap number, and we can only speculate on his number of lost games from injury, but he's here now, he truly is a lion-hearted player, and I'll support him 100%.

With Stewart, Santino, Eskandarian and possibly Curtis all here, I guess Stoichkov is truly a sub. In that role (when healthy) he can be very effective. Hristo can score, and that was/is our problem.

But I wonder how Etch feels about naming Hristo as a player/coach? Clearly Etch has done more in the past, and more last year than Stoichkov, and it seems that Etch was never considered for a player/coach position.

Hopefully, everyone will get along this season. With the additions of Petke, Kovalenko, Stoichkov, Stewart and Eskandarian, we have added a lot of egos. I have faith that Hudson can blend and appease them all, but it surely will not be a quiet locker room.

Welcome to United Hristo!

Tron

Three additional comments:

1. Etch probably makes more money that Hristo, so that probably takes the edge off not being a player-coach.

2. Does this mean Ivanov passed his physical and will be signed?

3. Hudson should have no problem managing the egos in the locker room. After all, his ego is probably bigger than all of the players put together. :D

Sachin

[former baller]

I was not aware United had made such important acquisitions. All the new players mentioned above are not only talented but they work hard and have good running legs. If Ray gets them to continue to work for each other while playing their best levels this new group potentially can be quite affective.
There is an underlying theme to the players he selected. Not bad Ray, good luck.

[greatscott]

Originally posted by Sachin



Hudson will have no problem managing in the locker room. After all, his is probably bigger than all of the players put together. :D

Sachin

some serious jackassery was just laid down.... :D

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by DigitalTron


But I wonder how Etch feels about naming Hristo as a player/coach? Clearly Etch has done more in the past, and more last year than Stoichkov, and it seems that Etch was never considered for a player/coach position.


I'm pretty sure Marco welcomes the move. He and Hristo are friends that go back to the '94 WC. I think this is going to be a great positive in the locker room and on the practice field. Now if they somehow pull off getting Harksie here, it's going to be sweet.

In a somewhat related topic, Carlos Trucco has been named head coach for the Bolivian National team thru the 2005 qualifiers and 2006 should they qualify for the WC. I was pretty sure Marco had his eye on that position. Now, who knows what the future hold for "El Diablo"

[Jose L. Couso]

Welcome aboard cule!

[Funkfoot]

Of course I support the guy, but does anyone find it a little strange that he's going to leave his family in Chicago? Seems like it would be a distraction to be a long distance dad / husband. Does this mean he's only here for a year (i.e., the whole assistant coach thing is just a ruse to get part of his salary off the books)?

You can never have too many hairy chested Bulgarians, I suppose.

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by Funkfoot
Of course I support the guy, but does anyone find it a little strange that he's going to leave his family in Chicago?
Didn't Michael Jordan do that? ;)

[JMMUSA8]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
With the additions of Petke, Kovalenko, Stoichkov, Stewart and Eskandarian, we have added a lot of egos. I have faith that Hudson can blend and appease them all, but it surely will not be a quiet locker room.

Welcome to United Hristo!

-Tron
you could probably add Hudson himself in that list of egos.

I don't think you'll see much of Stoichkov on the field this year, like other player/assistant coach. He'll help guide the young talent and once in awhile show them how its done. I wouldn't expect the minutes he got in Chicago.

[DigitalTron]

Originally posted by CHICO13
I'm pretty sure Marco welcomes the move. He and Hristo are friends that go back to the '94 WC.

In a somewhat related topic, Carlos Trucco has been named head coach for the Bolivian National team thru the 2005 qualifiers and 2006 should they qualify for the WC. I was pretty sure Marco had his eye on that position. Now, who knows what the future hold for "El Diablo" Good to know that Etch and Hristo are friends and that Etch probably welcomes the move. That makes me feel a little better about it.

Good catch on the Trucco contract. I noticed this as well and figured that it meant Etch wouldn't be leaving DC United anytime soon. In otherwords, it is entirely possible that this is not Etch's last season. I wish him well regardless of where he ends up and no matter what he chooses to do.

-Tron

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Good to know that Etch and Hristo are friends and that Etch probably welcomes the move. That makes me feel a little better about it.

Good catch on the Trucco contract. I noticed this as well and figured that it meant Etch wouldn't be leaving DC United anytime soon. In otherwords, it is entirely possible that this is not Etch's last season. I wish him well regardless of where he ends up and no matter what he chooses to do.

-Tron
I'm pretty sure Marco is going to be one hell of a coach one day. Be it here or overseas.

[mikedett]

Both this guy and Stewart are OLD. Marco is OLD.

Is Geritol the new Jersey Sponsor????

How about experienced mid-20s players that have a future???

Pups and Old Dogs....Woof

[vlaruta]

Originally posted by CHICO13
I'm pretty sure Marco welcomes the move. He and Hristo are friends that go back to the '94 WC. I think this is going to be a great positive in the locker room and on the practice field. Now if they somehow pull off getting Harksie here, it's going to be sweet.

In a somewhat related topic, Carlos Trucco has been named head coach for the Bolivian National team thru the 2005 qualifiers and 2006 should they qualify for the WC. I was pretty sure Marco had his eye on that position. Now, who knows what the future hold for "El Diablo"
Hello everybody, my name is Vladimir and I am from Bolivia, I like the way everybody talks "dc united soccer" here.
As far as I know Etch was never being considered to occupy the Bolivian National Team position, this due to a number of situations.
First, the Bolivian Soccer Federation (FBF) is almost bankrupted and I am sure Etch would never go to coach for $5.000 a month.
Second, I am not sure if Etch did any Coaching courses, if not he does not qualify to be a National Team Coach(according to my friend Toto Arevalo).
I know that one day Etch is going to be a good coach but for now I think he still has a lot to do for DC UNITED and I hope we play a good tournament this year.
WELCOME HRISTO!
:)

[Winoman]

Originally posted by vlaruta
Hello everybody, my name is Vladimir and I am from Bolivia, I like the way everybody talks "dc united soccer" here.
As far as I know Etch was never being considered to occupy the Bolivian National Team position, this due to a number of situations.
First, the Bolivian Soccer Federation (FBF) is almost bankrupted and I am sure Etch would never go to coach for $5.000 a month.
Second, I am not sure if Etch did any Coaching courses, if not he does not qualify to be a National Team Coach(according to my friend Toto Arevalo).
I know that one day Etch is going to be a good coach but for now I think he still has a lot to do for DC UNITED and I hope we play a good tournament this year.
WELCOME HRISTO!
:)

Welcome, vlaruta! I think a lot of us here think that Etch will make a good coach, someday. As to which (if any) coaching tickets he has, your guess is as good as mine.

Winoman

[JeffGMc]

Originally posted by Funkfoot
Of course I support the guy, but does anyone find it a little strange that he's going to leave his family in Chicago? Seems like it would be a distraction to be a long distance dad / husband. Does this mean he's only here for a year (i.e., the whole assistant coach thing is just a ruse to get part of his salary off the books)? I believe it's more along the lines that his daught has had enough trouble adjusting to life in the US in just once city and now that she seems to be doing well, they own a house and the wife seems to be happy in Chicago he sees no reason to move them across the US for just a year or two.

I'd suspect he's there for about a year as player-coach and then hangs up the spikes. If that means he stays on as assistant coach only it's still worth it.

[Sandon Mibut]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
But I wonder how Etch feels about naming Hristo as a player/coach? Clearly Etch has done more in the past, and more last year than Stoichkov, and it seems that Etch was never considered for a player/coach position
I'm going to assume that Tron means that Etch had "done more" for United and not done more in soccer as whole.

Because, while Marco has been a great MLS player, Hristo was - key word being "was" - a great player on the world stage. Etch never did as much on the club level as Hristo and never did as much at the national team level as Hristo.

Marco is a pretty bright guy and because of all that Hristo has accomplished I can't see Marco minding that Hristo was made assistant coach.

I think a more intriguing question is whether Marco will mind - or be asked to - giving up his captaincy to Earnie Stewart, who arguably has had a better career as a whole than Marco.