MLS Coaching and Front Office - News & Discussion Thread 2019

xbhaskarx · Jan 4, 2019

Previous threads:
MLS coaches (current and potential) and coaching thread
MLS Team Front Office Discussion Thread

It's probably best to keep these combined, given the "Front Office Discussion Thread" was buried under the endless barrage of daily news threads, all the way on page 11...

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In 2019 MLS will have 10 coaches who took over within the last year (thanks AeroNaught):

Alan Koch (Cincinnati) - head coach of the USL version of Cincinnati since February 2017, officially hired to the MLS team in November 2018

Caleb Porter (Columbus) - last coached Portland, left in November 2017

Chris Armas (New York Red Bulls) - assistant coach at NY, promoted when Marsch left in July 2018

Domènec Torrent (New York City FC) - assistant coach at Manchester City until Vieira left in June 2018

Frank de Boer (Atlanta United) - last coached Crystal Palace in September 2017

Guillermo Barros Schelotto (LA Galaxy) - last coached Boca Juniors in December 2018

James O'Connor (Orlando City) - last coached Louisville City in June 2018

Luchi Gonzalez (FC Dallas) - previously FC Dallas Academy Director

Marc Dos Santos (Vancouver) - assistant coach at LAFC until being hired in November 2018

Matías Almeyda (San Jose) - last coached Chivas Guadalajara in June 2018

Plus five coaches entering just their second season with their current MLS team:
Brad Friedel (New England)
Giovanni Savarese (Portland)
Bob Bradley (LAFC)
Rémi Garde (Montreal)
Anthony Hudson (Colorado)

That leaves as the grizzled MLS veterans:
Peter Vermes (Sporting KC since 2009)
Ben Olsen (DC United since 2010)
Jim Curtin (Philadelphia since 2014)
Greg Vanney (Toronto since 2014)
Veljko Paunović (Chicago since 2015)
Brian Schmetzer (Seattle since 2016)
Wilmer Cabrera (Houston since 2017)
Adrian Heath (Minnesota since 2017)
Mike Petke (RSL since 2017)

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Prominent MLS coaches from 2018 who will not be coaching in MLS in 2019:
Jesse Marsch: NYRB --> RB Leipzig (assistant coach)
Patrick Vieira: NYCFC --> OGC Nice
Oscar Pareja: FC Dallas --> Club Tijuana
Gregg Berhalter: Columbus --> USMNT
Tata Martino: Atlanta --> Mexico (rumored)
Sigi Schmid: RIP, last coached LA Galaxy
Dom Kinnear: LA Galaxy --> LA Galaxy (assistant coach)

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With some big names moving in and out of MLS, and some MLS coaches getting big jobs elsewhere...
Is the future of MLS "DP" coaches?

New year, new poll... Note that despite all the coaching turnover, four of top five (Olsen, Curtin, Heaps, Paunovic, Heath) from the previous "I can't believe this guy has a job coaching in MLS" poll that was created in summer 2017, still have their jobs in 2019!

[Note that with 24 coaches and only 20 poll options, I left off Vermes (he's never leaving right?), Armas, Bradley, and Porter]

firefan2001 · Jan 4, 2019

I don't care that he signed a two year contract, this asshole will get fired in 2019. That is if Joe buys the remaining 51% form Andi and he hires a replacement for NRod (after he's fired).

xbhaskarx · Jan 4, 2019

xbhaskarx · Jan 4, 2019

D.C. United extends Coach Ben Olsen through 2021

D.C. United and Coach Ben Olsen have agreed to a contract extension, avoiding possible off-field friction in what would have been the last year of his previous pact.

Multiple people familiar with the talks confirmed the deal Friday but requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter.

Last year, with an estimated salary of $400,000, Olsen was among the lowest-paid coaches in Major League Soccer. The new contract, which is guaranteed through 2021, is expected to provide modest increases. It’s unclear what type of bonuses and incentives were included.

Team spokesman Sam Legg said the organization did not want to comment. Olsen declined to speak about his contract status.

Olsen, 41, is entering his ninth full season as coach, second to Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes (10th year) for MLS’s longest active tenure. No other coach in United’s 23-year history had logged more than three years.
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Plus here's all the coaching related news posted at the end of the previous thread:

Columbus Crew SC name Caleb Porter head coach, Tim Bezbatchenko president

Warshaw: Porter returns to coaching roots in Ohio

Why GBS? Galaxy and their new coach speak

Austin FC add first member of technical staff

Report: Wolff to join Berhalter's USMNT staff

Schelotto pledges attacking mindset for Galaxy

TFC: Curtis will "get after it" in hunt for growth

FC Cincy add Pa-Modou Kah to coaching staff

jaykoz3 · Jan 4, 2019

I would think the warmest seats would be:

Jim Curtin - one year deal, new sporting director

Domenec Torrent - Didn't finish the season strong, won't have Herrera and Villa in 2019

Remi Garde - Joey Saputo doesn't like losing

James O'Connor - New management, that didn't hire him. Also an impatient owner

Adrian Heath - Year three, and a new stadium. It's put up or shut up time. Road form will be key.

xbhaskarx · Jan 4, 2019

^ I think those five make the most sense...

With seven votes in the poll so far, no coach has more than one (Heath, Hudson, Friedel, Torrent, O'Connor, Curtin, Paunovic with one each)... another area where MLS has #parity

Edit: right as I type that Adrian Heath gets his second vote

PTFC in KCMO · Jan 4, 2019

All I am saying is Adrian Heath better watch his ass.

JasonMa · Jan 5, 2019

If Hudson shows progress then his seat is pretty cool this season. A repeat of last year though and it will heat up quickly. The Rapids finally finish paying Pablo off at the end of the season so they'll be more open to buying out the last year of Hudson's contract.

STR1 · Jan 5, 2019

jaykoz3 said: ↑

I would think the warmest seats would be:

Jim Curtin - one year deal, new sporting director

Domenec Torrent - Didn't finish the season strong, won't have Herrera and Villa in 2019

Remi Garde - Joey Saputo doesn't like losing

James O'Connor - New management, that didn't hire him. Also an impatient owner

Adrian Heath - Year three, and a new stadium. It's put up or shut up time. Road form will be key.
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Are NYCFC getting any replacements for Villa and Herrera? Because without any replacements of the same caliber or better I don't see the team doing anything and Torrent getting fired. That is of course if owners care for this team at all.

Bluecat82 · Jan 5, 2019

Heath leading by a wide margin...which may be the only thing he wins before the home opener.

PTFC in KCMO · Jan 5, 2019

Who the ******** voted for Frank de Boer?

I’d really like to hear the reasoning for that one.

Bluecat82 · Jan 5, 2019

PTFC in KCMO said: ↑

Who the ******** voted for Frank de Boer?

I’d really like to hear the reasoning for that one.
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They can't believe he'd stoop so low?

DanGerman · Jan 5, 2019

STR1 said: ↑

Are NYCFC getting any replacements for Villa and Herrera? Because without any replacements of the same caliber or better I don't see the team doing anything and Torrent getting fired. That is of course if owners care for this team at all.
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Haven't gotten any new signings of note (Rocha being brought in doesn't exactly excite me). This season is a make or break season for me with regards to my season tickets. I'm not dropping 1K for 2 tickets to watch a shit show. I'll just buy my tickets on stubhub and save my money.

xbhaskarx · Jan 6, 2019

Jesse Marsch update:

Looks like Ralf Rangnick is already getting to know @RBLeipzig_EN's new signing @tyler_adams14 quite well! 😅 pic.twitter.com/v3gVaOf58X
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) January 5, 2019

PTFC in KCMO said: ↑

Who the ******** voted for Frank de Boer?

I’d really like to hear the reasoning for that one.
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I almost didn't even put him as an option in the poll, but (devil's advocate obviously) he didn't last very long at his two previous coaching jobs, and Atlanta is a very ambitious team with sky-high expectations, so if it wasn't working out Arthur Blank wouldn't hesitate to write the check to replace him.
As for who voted for Frank de Boer, obviously it's either an Atlanta hater, or an Atlanta fan since they vote for the Atlanta option in every poll (goal of the week, Tata Martino for best dressed coach, etc.)...

FoxBoro 143 · Jan 6, 2019

PTFC in KCMO said: ↑

Who the ******** voted for Frank de Boer?

I’d really like to hear the reasoning for that one.
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I was the second vote. The question is "next to get fired" not worst coach.
The Revs won't fire Friedel for at least two more seasons almost regardless of results. Chicago just inexplicably gave an extension to Veljko, meaning he is almost certainly safe for at least a season. The Rapids don't care enough to fire Hudson.

Then you have De Boar, who needs to regain credibility still and is going to an ambitious club which won't hesitate to make a move. We've all seen stories like him before in which a manager has a couple of very successful stints followed by a long string of failures.
That being said, I think he will have success, but I'd say his odds of being fired this season are at least 20%, which is behind Heath who 100% should already be fired, and just slightly better than Dome who has enough sway in the CFG organization to keep him in the job long enough to outlast at least two managers.

xbhaskarx · Jan 7, 2019

Just wrapped interviews at #MLSCombine. Can’t overstate huge shift in coaching hires happening in #MLS. New wave of int’l managers have cachet + resumes (Chivas, Boca, Ajax, Inter, etc). Requests coming in from across 🌍 of ESPN for these interviews. Not the case a few years ago. pic.twitter.com/Rjx6NH4Epk
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) January 6, 2019

Thread:

.@andrew_wiebe and @empiregass are doing interviews with coaches for @ExtraTimeRadio right now. I'll tweet out some of my favorite lines (paraphrased), and you can get the full episodes over the next few weeks. One quote per tweet thread:
— Bobby Warshaw (@bwarshaw14) January 6, 2019

GBS: La rivalidad con Matías será muy grande para la liga. Los dos queremos ganar y el que pierda paga.

The rivalry with Matias will be great for the league. We both want to win and the loser pays!
— Bobby Warshaw (@bwarshaw14) January 6, 2019

Bill Archer · Jan 7, 2019

With all due respect, Austin FC hiring someone to head their academy is not really "MLS Coaching thread" material.

GunnerJacket · Jan 7, 2019

Bluecat82 said: ↑

They can't believe he'd stoop so low?
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*glares @ Bluecat*

Bluecat82 · Jan 7, 2019

Bill Archer said: ↑

With all due respect, Austin FC hiring someone to head their academy is not really "MLS Coaching thread" material.
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Front Office?

Bluecat82 · Jan 7, 2019

GunnerJacket said: ↑

*glares @ Bluecat*
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That would be MLS in general, not Atlanta in particular.

GunnerJacket · Jan 7, 2019

Bluecat82 said: ↑

That would be MLS in general, not Atlanta in particular.
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Oh, that's better.

Hey, wait a minute...

Egbert Sousé · Jan 7, 2019

FoxBoro 143 said: ↑

Dome who has enough sway in the CFG organization to keep him in the job long enough to outlast at least two managers.
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For the most part I agree with this. I believe that unless something catastrophic takes place, Dome leaves when he wants to leave.

morrissey · Jan 7, 2019

I put Olsen because of wishful thinking.

james

xbhaskarx · Jan 7, 2019

SI: Mexico hires Martino as new national team manager

Inter Miami hire ex-Orlando GM Budalic

Mexico announce Tata Martino as new coach

Stejskal: New Lions exec aims to go young & local

GunnerJacket · Jan 7, 2019

Re: Martino

I'm grateful for his time here in Atlanta but for his duration as head of El Tri I hope he fails miserably.