Well, that'll look good on Martin's resume, won't it. Sure looks more impressive than having the San Diego Spirit. This will definitely elevate Vasquez' status in the US coaching fraternity when he wants to return.
I remember Omid Namazi coaching the Spirit in 2003, was Martin on his staff? I do remember Vasquez on both the LA and Chivas benches.
Here it is from the Yahoo/Reuters press release: Klinsmann chooses American coach Vasquez as assistant Very impressive, this: The question of who would take the main assistant's role at Bayern Munich has been a burning issue in Germany ever since the club announced Klinsmann's appointment on a two-year contract starting in July, after Ottmar Hitzfeld steps down.
I've always had a large amount of respect for Martin. It may be due to the fact he played for both the US and Mexico eventually turning his back on his native country. Pretty big balls to go to the rivals despite the fact he probably wouldn't have gotten a sniff for Mexico other than the two friendlies he played for them. My hat his off to Martin once again, Klinnsmann must really trust his abilities. The pressure at Bayern will be like none Martin's faced. He'll do fine I'm sure.
The people over on the Bayern board of BS don't seem too enthused. They keep calling him a Mexican (which I suppose he is, but he's definitely a YA). I guess it makes it hurt less for them. I'm stoked, personally.
No. Namazi coached the Spirit in their final season, 2003. This is the second time that Namazi has left a team after a season had started to coach another team. Four games into the 2002-2003 MISL season, he left the Philadelphia KiXX to coach the San Diego Spirit in what was to be the Women's United Soccer Association's third and final year. http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=12730 Vasquez was with the Spirit in 01-02. The 40-year-old Vasquez, who holds a U.S. "A" Coaching License, joins the Galaxy following a two year-stint (2001-2002) as the assistant coach under Carlos Juarez with the San Diego Spirit, formerly of the WUSA. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=2991579
Thank you for speaking for the entire Bayern forum.... seeing that I have seen you post there...er... never (???). Seriously, the main reason some have no affect on the signing is that some still feel Jürgen was a foolish pick as head coach. Just a trickle down affect. Personally, I think it is brilliant they signed Klinsmann. It is a sign that Bayern mean business when they say they wish to change their philosophy. They proved that in the transfer market all last year (Toni, Ribery, Klose, Ze Roberto, and recently Breno); now they have stepped up in the coaching arena. Leave it to Jürgi to place an American in the ranks. I have been saying for years now on that forum that we need an American on staff... either on the pitch or on the sidelines... just for selfish reasons. Now I got one!!!
I know certain UEFA badges are reconginzed and equated to USSF lincenses so I assume a USSF lincense does the same. I may be wrong, though. However, what he lacks he has time to complete before July, I would assume.
Don't they know that none of the coaches in the US system are very good. Franz B -- call SFS ASAP -- before it is too late! P.S. maybe this is Klinsman's strategy to ensure that his success isn't credited to his assistant as the Germans would never give credit to an American coach, woukd they?
The only time I saw Vasquez on the bench was when Sigi was out (I think it was a Metrostars game in NJ) for some reasons and the Galz looked like a bunch of high school graders. In any case, Klinsmann needed a lieutenant and that's what he's got in Martin. He'll probably hire someone else for the tactical help.
My stepfather (Richard Torres) played with Martin in college at Cal State LA, then at Tecos together after that. I also remember watching Martin play with Rich on a men's team when he was in his thirties. The guy was a very good player. Don't know a lot about his coaching style?
I've got tons of photos of Martin on the bench with Sigi, with Steve, and then at Chivas at all of the games I shot over the years.
Huh. I guess I never noticed that. I'm sure I've got photos of him with the Spirit somewhere int he archives. I just re-processed the 2003 and 2004 WUSA stuff. When I go back through the 2001/2002 stuff, I'll definitely keep my eye out for him.
Doubt it. I mean, haven't there been several British players who have gone from being a player at the end of their career to immediately stepping into the head manager's role in the Premier League?
You can get temporary waivers from the particular governing body (FA in England's case) to grant time to get qualified. That was the case when Roeder took the Newcastle job as an caretaker manager and then as full-time manager.
To me, this rivals Michael Bradley's goal-scoring spree at Heerenveen as the YA story of the season. I always assumed we'd see an American playing for one of the European superclubs before we'd ever see one coaching at one of them.
Whoops. I think I was referring to field players. I think it's fairly well established that we produce outstanding goalkeepers. (Though, on that note... not really a superclub, but I think Benfica had an American goalkeeper coach a few years ago?)
Any guess as to the first American to play for Bayern? Do Bornstein or Kliejstan have a shot (given the Chivas USA connection)? Maybe Landon would go there if he ever decides to return to Europe. Maurice Edu and Ricardo Clark would also be solid buys.
Well, isn't youngster Joseph-Claude Gyau headed there in April? I'm guessing it will be him. Yes, I'm half-kidding.
Good article with lots of background info on Vasquez from Soccer America: Mexican-American named Bayern Munich assistant coach