A lot of interesting information in yesterday's Soccer America e-mail "MLS Confidential", including: 1. Peter Wilt received a phone call from Johan Cruyff, presumably about the Fire's coaching vacancy. Why Cruyff, who at one time could have had just about any coaching job in the world, would be interested in the Fire job, is beyond me. 2. Stoitchkov is also apparently interested in coaching the Fire. I just can't see the hot tempered one as a coach, at least not now. It is also speculated that, although the salary cap impaired Fire may not be able to afford him, the league might move him to the Metros since he can still draw fans (emphasize that this seemed nothing more than speculation by the author). 3. AEG, which operates the Fire, were denied permission to speak with Mike Jeffries, the Burn's coach, regarding the Fire job. This is at odds with the conspiracy theorists among us who suspect that every personnel move in MLS is orchestrated by the league itself to favor one team or another (i.e. Bradley's move to the Metros). The fact that Jeffries' contract expires 12/31/02 only makes this more curious. And finally, the fact that it was the Hunt Sports Group which would not permit AEG to speak with Jeffries seems to confirm that HSG is the de facto owner of the supposedly league run Burn.
I can't imagine that Cryuff would be thrilled about coaching a team that plays on the fake stuff, since that was one of his reasons for leaving the NASL in the first place. But . . . if he did come here? Bob who?
Yeah, I thought that might be the case, but it is a little ambiguous. The piece doesn't actually say why Johan called.
[rampant, baseless speculation] Maybe he was calling on behalf of hs son, Jordi, who is rumored to be leaving Alaves in Spain [/rampant, baseless speculation]
I'd much rather have Hristo coaching than the nobodies Peter Wilt has been talking to. Obviously Cruyff would be better though. Some people are just worth taking a chance on, and he is one of those.
Does Hristo even have a coaching license? I'd rather have an experienced and successful USian coach than another foreign player/coach ala Zenga.
In theory it would be great, but there just isn't anyone out there that can do the job. National 'A' licenses really don't mean anything other than it shows that you went through the courses. I've worked with plenty of 'A' coaches and I would worry if any of them had to coach the Fire or any MLS team for that matter. Hristo's played at the biggest clubs in the biggest tournaments and been extremely successful. That kind of experience could translate to coaching. It's worth taking a chance on in my opinion.
I'd rather have a good coach that knows and appreciates the MLS thoroughly than any coach that does not. The Metrostars have learned this lesson.
Hristo would be a good coach for the Fire/MLS. He's familiar with the team and league. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's taken on some coaching roles in the past with Bradley. He's taken Beasley and Kovalenko under his wing and instructed them. Stoitchkov wouldbe a good MLS coach.
Re: Re: Cruyff, Stoitchkov and Single Entity My conspiracy theory is tht most conspiracy theorists are frustrated conspirators. Notice here the marked tendency never to say anything that's to be taken at face value.
Even still, huge gulf in what it says on Cruyff's CV versus that of Zenga's. And while all of this is nothing but rumor and innuendo at this point, note that Cruyff has been out of coaching for the last few years and might just be having the urge to get back into it. If anywhere, why not MLS, and why not Chicago? Not to mention, I'm sure that Stoitchkov might be exercising his influence here a bit, wouldn't surprise me... those old Barcelona connections, perhaps... While having American coaches in MLS is a good thing to have, I think that there are exceptions to the rule-- and Cruyff would be a wonderful asset in MLS. Just my two cents... Cheers, William
Cruyff Cruyff stated he would not return to coaching preferring to spend more time with his family after his history of health problems (he's a chain-smoking Dutchman)