Is anyone else a little surprised that we haven't heard anything about Etcheverry's status? I am. Maybe they're waiting for the new coach to make the definitive decision and/or absorb the inevitable negative backlash, but, nonetheless, I thought we’d hear more. I was under the impression that his contract expired at the end of this month. (Is that correct?) So I at least expected to see some chatter in the press from his agent and perhaps himself about the future. Thus far there really hasn’t been anything. I guess it’s possible that DC United and MLS silently let Etcheverry go on his way but that’s so unlikely. One way or another a reckoning and an explanation have to be given. DC United can’t just let Etcheverry leave the team without a word. He’s too much of a team icon for that. But thus far there’s been nothing, no word that he’s staying or going. Indeed, there hasn’t even been any discussion about the fact that it’s an issue. Everyone, the Troika, the press and even us on this board seem to be avoiding the issue. Did I miss something? Perhaps the Troika want to get a new coach first before dealing with the Etcheverry issue. But if that's so then, as I implied earlier, that's an interesting wrinkle in this coaching business. Would you want your first act as coach to be the firing of the team's most notable icon? That's a tough thing to do and it would certainly incur more than a little ill regard from certain DC United supporters. But I've gotta wonder if that's the design that’s unfolding here amidst this silence.
All I have to go on is what he said before his last home game. He left for Bolivia about a week and a half ago and isn't due back here for about three more weeks. (I have his car at my shop). Regardless of his status, I'm sure he'll probably keep his residency here in the area as he now has his green card and loves living in the States. Before he left he told me he was sad about Ray's departure which actually surprised me a little. I personally don't think he'll be back and I'm not sure whoever the new coach is will be responsible for pulling the trigger. I think the economics and the reality of his diminished role will force Paynes hand into asking him to retire or let his contract expire. My guess is he plays one more year somewhere overseas and then puts in some time with the young guns on the Bolivian nats. Either way, to most of the posters on this boards relief we've probably seen the last of El Diablo.
I think they are going to be introducing him as an assistant coach. Probably not player/coach, but just coach. I'm sure he was hurt when Hristo filled that role last year. I hope he stays with the club in some capacity. I think most of us will admit he can still be brilliant but he can also be invisible. I'd like to see him remain in the Black and Red, but as a coach.
I think that's fairly unlikely. (Though I'm by no means opposed to him coaching DC United in the future.) It's just that the incoming coach is going to name his assistant and it's unlikely that Etcheverry will be high on their lists. If it's Nowak he's already stated that it'll be Kubik. And if it's Osorio then I doubt he'd want to risk being upstaged by Etcheverry. But maybe I'm wrong. Tell you the truth, what'd be classy is for DC United to set up a youth academy and put Etcheverry in charge. It would be a sort of first step towards the eventual development of official youth and reserve teams. I think Chicago and some other teams have already taken similar steps. In fact, all that would really require is a formalization of ties between DC United, the DC United sponsored youth teams and Etcheverry's already existing soccer academy. http://www.etcheverrysoccer.com/
I think coaching would NOT be a great move - He (and Stoichkov) displayed far too much immaturity on the field by protesting calls with the referee - For all of Ray's histrionics (and occasional protests), I thought he was usually pretty objective about about how well (and how poorly) the team played - Coaches need to calmly recognize that so they can successfully address and correct that in practices - Marco has NEVER demonstrated this - On the other hand, an official Youth Academy Coach type of job would be good John L
I'll take issue with this statement and say that the player Marco is on the field and the teacher he is on the practice field are two different people. Marco came up thru the Tahuichi Academy and pro leagues in South America and Europe. The Tahuichi Academy stressed fundamentals and fair play. He was never known thru out his career as an immature player. Only once he hit the MLS with the questionable refereeing did this become an issue. Is he fiery and hot headed at times? Well uh.... he probably wouldn't be called El Diablo if he wasn't. But if you don't think he can be a great teacher or a positive influence, you only have to go as far as Bobby Convey to ask.
I think that United is letting Marco's current contract expire. Then, whenever they hire a new coach, the new coach will be able to decide whether or not he wants to attempt to sign Marco to a new contract. The likelihood of his returning to RFK as a player are probably close to zero. I'd personally love to have him in section 135 in the future.
And that, my friends, is why it was worth asking the question. I can't see any of the coaching prospects wanting to retain Etcheverry. The Troika perhaps, but not the next coach. By passing the buck on the final decision they've all but sealed Etcheverry's DC United fate. Thanks for the info, Steven.
There was some talk in Bolivia that Etcheverry would return and play a final year for a club team there. Most notably with Wilstermann as a "refuerzo" (reinforcement) for the Copa Libertadores. I can assure you that most of the fans there do not want him either. Seeing him horribly useless in the qualifying match last November sealed their opinions of him.
hey knave...you asked a question that you knew the answer to...you know what is going on and you dont want etch back...why waste a thread on it...oh i guess you are a big time moderator and like seeing yourself as a guy that starts a lot of threads...congrats man...another feather in your cap
Yes he was and I was sitting 15 rows up from where it happened. When he got tangled up with the German player and went down he got up and kicked the ground a good 4 or 5 feet behind the German. The referee was a about 20 yards up the field. From the referees viewpoint it looked like Marco kicked the player. I saw a replay of it from a Portugese telecast that backs this. Needless to say about a thousand Bolivians went nuts that hot day in Chicago. And if memory serves, that ref was banned from WC action after that game.
i just saw etcheverry on telemundo apparently he went to chile to play tribute to Ivan Bam Bam Zamorrano Game is one right now! P.S. Etcheverry can't complete a pass and looks to be in horrible condition....okay its a friendly but still if he comes back dc united i'm afriad he will bring his mediocre style of play too.
...who flopped down like he'd been shot when it happened. "Once a Metroscum, always a Metroscum" applies retroactively in this case.
i could not agree with you more lothar was an actor and the ref an idiot poor etch that was a sad day in his life
Bruce Arena has said several times that he felt Marco was a magnificent teacher and he'd love to have him as a USMNT assistant. Okay, even if that was a bit over the top, clearly Bruce wouldn't say it about someone he thought was a mediocre or terrible teacher and hands-on coach. So, I'd love to see the establishment of a formal DCU youth academy with Marco as the head instructor of said institution. And...I don't like the idea of Marco as an assistant or a player coach in 2004. I think the problem with him going from player in 2003 to assistant in 2004 is that he goes with some baggage. For instance, if he rides Ryan Nelsen hard in practice one day, does Ryan think 'is this just a payback for me being picked as captain last year?'. If he demanded the ball always go to the A-mid when he was on the field, do the players subcounciously force the ball to the new A-mid assuming it's what he wants as coach? If he has one year of separation, I think that's enough to deal with this kind of baggage. People have short memories on most of this stuff, rosters turn over (especially with a new coach) and Marco as a team assistant in 2005 would be seen as the "father of DCU" and part of a great tradition who'd be given a lot of respect by most or all of the roster. Marco as an assistant in 2004 would complicate things (especially for an inexperienced head coach like Osorio who has a reputation as a real hands-on kind of guy).
If Etch's current contract is simply let to expire by DC United and the new coach brought in opts not to resign Etch, does DC United still get an allocation? It is a fact that we owe Dallas an allocation as part of the trade for the #1 draft pick United will use to acquire Adu on Jan 16. Where will this allocation come from? Stoitch's departure? Etch's departure? If MLS HQ hasn't already said that DC gets an allocation for Hristo leaving, then is it certain that Etch won't be back on the field in order to get the allocation needed to complete the trade to Dallas for their #1 pick? Or am I getting the details of the trade with Dallas wrong? I don't think too many people would be upset with a new coach for not resigning Etch, especially if he has the excuse of saying we needed to let him go in order to be able to get Freddy.
tab5g - I don't know where it got started that we'd get an allocation for Stoitckov. There's been some talk about getting an allocation for the cumulative loss of Etcheverry and Stoitchkov but not one for each of them. During the Nelsen to Europe discussion there was some reporting that if he leaves we'll get an allocation. Why? Because he was one of this year's best eleven. That's apparently a "standard" that the competition committee uses to determine if an allocation is in order. Obviously that's not a hard standard but it gives us an idea of the level they expect before approving an allocation. We'll probably get an allocation for Etcheverry for two reasons: 1) He's an all-time best eleven even if he's not a best eleven this year so it can be justified. 2) We need an allocation because we owe future considerations to Dallas. Before the Adu signing it was 50/50 that we'd get any allocation at all for Etcheverry. Afterwards the odds improved quite a bit. We will not, however, get an allocation for Stoitchkov and I suspect the pressure will be on the new coach to make sure the pieces fall into place so an allocation can be procured.