... and it would be ironic if he becomes an MLS co-owner befor Beckham gets his Miami expansion off the ground. http://www.espnfc.com/united-soccer...h-usls-phoenix-rising-as-player-and-executive
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/frank-yallop-resigns-phoenix-rising-234550723.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...club-Phoenix-Rising-left-without-manager.html http://www.espnfc.com/phoenix-risin...-as-phoenix-rising-coach-amid-bid-to-join-mls http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-phoenix-rising-manager-resigns-a7700781.html Phoenix is well placed in a region that is under-served by MLS and has a strong financial backing. But, unlike San Antonio or Atlanta, has an owner who has no experience in N. American sports. It will be an interesting situation. Interestingly enough, they are building a stadium which can be expanded for MLS. In my opinion, along with their location, they should be more a part of the conversation along with Sacremento should Drogba's arrival bring big crowds to Phoenix. It greatly expands MLS' tv footprint and MLS would be happy to have Drogba as an owner in order to promote the amount of interest that the league is drawing from abroad. Big question mark is Yallop departing just after Drogba signing. I don't think Drogba had anything to do with this, but rather I think that Yallop looks at what happened in Montreal and sees Drogba arriving afterwards not only as a player but now part owner of the team. He won't win any battles here as Biello was able to. Granted, it is likely only for a year or two should Phoenix win an MLS bid, and Drogba would likely be forced to either retire or give up his ownership stake and all signs point to him retiring since this is what he has described as part of a plan of embarking on his post-football career. So you put up with one or two years of letting Drogba essentially be the GM on the field and then only have to deal with him as a boss off of it if/when you reach MLS. Which is what every other coach has to do... I think that they may be poised to leapfrog several other clubs if Bakay states that he has funding for his stadium expansion.