MLS coaches (current and potential) and coaching thread

Bluecat82 · Oct 8, 2018

Dang it!

We (meaning Heath) couldn't beat the Earthquakes when they had the other guys.

We're doomed now.

xbhaskarx · Oct 8, 2018

PRESS CONFERENCE: Watch Matias Almeyda's introductory press conference from Avaya Stadium
October 8, 2018

NEWS: Earthquakes Hire Matias Almeyda as Head Coach
October 8, 2018

Goodsport · Oct 8, 2018

"WATCH: Earthquakes Hire Matias Almeyda as Head Coach" (SJEarthquakes.com - Monday, 10/8/18)

(SJEarthquakes.com)

-G

AndyMead · Oct 8, 2018

NeilB said: ↑

Maybe with Marsch going to Leipzig, Viera moving to Ligue 1, and rumors swirling around Tata Martino, MLS might be picking up a reputation as a stepping stone for coaches too?
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I think it's a mixed bag. I think MLS has been around long enough that the need to have an institutional ability to deal with Salary Budget rules and the various league-specific player acquisition rules is now understood by most non-American coaches that come to the league. Coming in and arrogantly assuming you'll be able to show those Yanks a thing or to just doesn't work, and you can't spend your way to success, either.

On the plus side, most top leagues other than LigaMX have nothing remotely resembling the parity found in MLS. Even the UCL only really levels out at the end, and even then you're talking less than ten games a year, not a long season of land mines. MLS is a great place to test your ability to train and coach and see if you can win because you're a better coach and not just because your owner can spend the other teams into oblivion. The corollary to this - and more to your point - is that I think it's becoming recognized around the globe that if you can succeed as a coach in MLS, you're probably a pretty decent coach.

Sal Paradise · Oct 8, 2018

AndyMead said: ↑

...I think it's becoming recognized around the globe that if you can succeed as a coach in MLS, you're probably a pretty decent coach.
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Conversely, if you gather a bunch of your hand-selected second division journeymen from Europe, and your team goes from bad to worse to terrible over the full course of a season, then you probably suck at this job.

Goodsport · Oct 8, 2018

LIVE: Introducing @peladoalmeyda, the Quakes new head coach! 🙏 #BienvenidoMatias https://t.co/pHxnYNOVMS
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) October 8, 2018

Paul Berry · Oct 8, 2018

Can we add Domènec Torrent to the list? 1.47 points per match winning seven, losing six and tying 4.

In his defense he has taken on an unbalanced team with no recognized cover for David Villa and suffered from an awful schedule with just 3 games sandwiched into 8 days in the space of 6 weeks.

JasonMa · Oct 8, 2018

Sal Paradise said: ↑

Conversely, if you gather a bunch of your hand-selected second division journeymen from Europe, and your team goes from bad to worse to terrible over the full course of a season, then you probably suck at this job.
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Thinking of anyone in particular?

xbhaskarx · Oct 8, 2018

Armchair Analyst: Hiring Matias Almeyda, Quakes shake up the MLS order

The names tossed about when the San Jose Earthquakes head coaching job came open last month, and in the weeks since, all made a certain sort of sense. Marc Dos Santos is regarded as probably one of the two or three best assistants in MLS, and his success as a manager in the lower divisions in the US and Canada makes him a pretty snug fit for any job opening here. Caleb Porter is an out-of-work, MLS Cup-winning manager who's been agitating to get his foot back in the door somewhere in the league. Jeremy Gunn is right down the street (Palo Alto is basically next door to San Jose), and is the most successful college coach since Bruce Arena.

All of those would have been relatively safe and eminently sensible hires, and I suspect two of them will be managing in the league come 2019.

None of them would've moved the needle like the hiring of Matias Almeyda has. I'm still in at least a little bit of shock, so let's just use bullet points:

In Almeyda's first coaching job, he guided River Plate – yes, that River Plate – to promotion back to Argentina's top flight.

In his second job he took over Banfield ... and guided them to promotion as well.

In his third job he took over Chivas, guided them out of the Liga MX relegation zone and led them to their first title of any kind in nine years (the 2015 Copa MX).

Two years later, he led Chivas to their first league title in 11 years, and claimed the league/Cup double for good measure.

His last act as Chivas manager was leading the Goats to this past year's Concacaf Champions League title, the club's first international trophy in 56 years.

I still say he got outcoached in both the semifinals and finals of the CCL, but his team finished their chances while RBNY and TFC didn't. He was the guy holding the trophy at the end. That's what matters most.

His work with Chivas – rescuing them from relegation, then claiming four titles in four years (with some truly bad seasons sprinkled in, but still) – put him on the radar for the El Tri head coaching job:

Looks like we can cross Almeyda's name off the list of potential Mexico managers now as well. A coup for the Earthquakes and MLS. #eltrieng https://t.co/boycggHCrz
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) October 8, 2018

Almeyda is a big name, with a big profile. This is not a Tata Martino-level hire, but it's in the same neighborhood. Just bringing that knowledge and experience -- and his network -- to bear on roster decisions can only bolster the club's talent ID and recruitment.

And that's his wheelhouse: Almeyda has spent most of this decade taking bad teams and making them good. Beyond anything else, that's the most useful bullet point when taking over a team that's struggled as much as the 2018 Quakes.
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dougtee · Oct 8, 2018

almeyda early on with lots of good talk about the academy and integrating young players

xbhaskarx · Oct 8, 2018

New @SJEarthquakes coach Matias Almeyda: I've always had an obsession with football in the United States. We played friendlies in the States and the CCL. Football in MLS is growing greatly. In some years it'll be the best league in the world ... transfers, stadiums, etc
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) October 8, 2018

Goodsport · Oct 8, 2018

"San Jose Earthquakes hire big-time coach" (San Jose Mercury News - Monday, 10/8/18)

"San Jose Earthquakes officially announce Almeyda hire" (FMF State of Mind - Monday, 10/8/18)

Goodsport · Oct 8, 2018

It's a new era for the @SJEarthquakes as they add @peladoalmeyda as head coach. The squad breaks down today's news. https://t.co/9f03v8uKZp
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 8, 2018

Goodsport · Oct 8, 2018

WATCH: @peladoalmeyda sits down with the Spanish voice of the Quakes Carlos Cesar to talk about his role as the club’s new head coach! #BienvenidoMatias pic.twitter.com/jlZMaxPBE6
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) October 8, 2018

Gamecock14 · Oct 8, 2018

Getting Almeyda might be just as surprising as Atlanta getting Tata. Almeyda's name was being tossed around for jobs all around both Americas. He probably had suitors in Europe/Asia as well.

This is impressive.

FoxBoro 143 · Oct 8, 2018

Yea this outdid my expectations, which were extremely low. I'd love to see his salary.

TOAzer · Oct 8, 2018

butters59 said: ↑

I must give Friedel his due, he is the worst coach in the league and the style his team is playing is revolting. Is he still a candidate to coach NT?
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He's been Burns noticed...............

DanGerman · Oct 9, 2018

Paul Berry said: ↑

Can we add Domènec Torrent to the list? 1.47 points per match winning seven, losing six and tying 4.

In his defense he has taken on an unbalanced team with no recognized cover for David Villa and suffered from an awful schedule with just 3 games sandwiched into 8 days in the space of 6 weeks.
Click to expand...

He's also had players not finish their chances. I've lost count how many times I've seen a good attacking play end up with an NYCFC player screw it up in the end. Villa scuffing 2 good chances in the last home game and hell if Wallace could have been more aware he would have buried a chance in the last derby that would have given them the lead. So Torrent has been mostly putting players in a position to succeed its just they're not doing the business by in large.

ElJefe · Oct 9, 2018

Credit where credit is due: Almeyda is a legitimately good hire by the Quakes. As long as management and ownership don’t actively sabotage him (either intentionally or unintentionally), he should do well.

The Western Conference continues to be a tough neighborhood, even if the Rapids and Loons insist on eating paste.

Goodsport · Oct 9, 2018

A message to the fans:

The full press conference:

NeilB · Oct 9, 2018

Kind of MLS related.

Thierry Henry to be named new Monaco manager as Leonardo Jardim sacked - sources
http://www.espn.com/soccer/as-monac...aco-manager-as-leonardo-jardim-sacked-sources

xbhaskarx · Oct 9, 2018

Also only "kind of MLS ralated": Steve Cherundolo is out of a job... add him to the list of guys (Porter, MDS, etc.) that MLS teams might want to consider... he can't be worse than Friedel!

Stuttgart have dismissed head coach Tayfun Korkut and his assistants (including Steve Cherundolo).

VfB Stuttgart have dismissed head coach Tayfun Korkut and his assistants Ilija Aracic and Steven Cherundolo, following their 3-1 defeat to Hannover.

The result leaves Stuttgart bottom of the Bundesliga standings, with just five points from their first seven games of the 2018/19 season.

Stuttgart U23s coach Andreas Hinkel has been placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs.

"The lack of progress since the start of the new season and the negative results prompted the decision," explained Stuttgart sporting director Michael Reschke. "Tayfun Korkut took over the team in very difficult circumstances last season, and secured our place in the Bundesliga ahead of schedule on the back of a sensational run. For that, we’re very grateful to him and his two assistants Ilija Aracic and Steven Cherundolo."
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Watching the highlights from their 3-1 loss, they showed Cherundolo after Hannover goals and I just assumed he was an assistant coach there... I was wondering why he looked so stoic. Bummer that he's out of a job due to a loss to his old team (and a Bobby Wood brace).

I wonder if Earnie will consider Dolo for one of the YNT jobs...

SoccerMan94043 · Oct 9, 2018

xbhaskarx said: ↑

Also only "kind of MLS ralated": Steve Cherundolo is out of a job... add him to the list of guys (Porter, MDS, etc.) that MLS teams might want to consider... he can't be worse than Friedel!
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Does he have a fake German accent though?

Beerking · Oct 9, 2018

Goodsport said: ↑

A message to the fans:

The full press conference:

Click to expand...

Baldy is going to learn very quickly how savage the San Jose fans can be if he gets off on the wrong foot. I hope to God Fioranelli has the good sense to stay the hell out of his way and give him a free hand.

El Naranja · Oct 9, 2018

ElJefe said: ↑

Credit where credit is due: Almeyda is a legitimately good hire by the Quakes. As long as management and ownership don’t actively sabotage him (either intentionally or unintentionally), he should do well.

The Western Conference continues to be a tough neighborhood, even if the Rapids and Loons insist on eating paste.
Click to expand...

I'm thankful for their incompetence.