Just got this press release from the CSA, it's official: YALLOP NAMED HEAD COACH OF THE CANADIAN MEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM Former Canadian International Assumes Responsibilities January 1, 2004 Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association today named former Canadian international defender Frank Yallop as head coach of the Men’s World Cup Team, effective January 1, 2004 through to the end of 2006. The contract also holds an option for an extension to 2010. All other terms of the contract are confidential. The team has been without a head coach since Holger Osieck resigned on September 2. Colin Miller, another former Canadian international and a teammate of Yallop’s acted as interim head coach for the recent friendlies against Finland, Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland. On November 23rd, Yallop led the San Jose Earthquakes to their second MLS Championship in his three-year tenure as head coach with a 4-2 win over the Chicago Fire in the MLS Cup. “I am delighted to be able to welcome Frank Yallop as our new head coach of the Men’s World Cup Team,” said CSA President Andy Sharpe who introduced Yallop at a media conference at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC, today. “The CSA conducted a comprehensive search for the best person to lead the World Cup team into 2006 World Cup Qualifying but right from the start, the unanimous belief was that Frank Yallop was the man for the job. His recent success in the MLS, combined with his impressive national team career make him the ideal and logical choice.” Yallop will hold a training camp for North American based players in Ft. Lauderdale from January 12-23 and those players will take part in an international friendly against Barbados in Bridgetown on January 18. Also, as part of the team’s preparations for their opening World Cup Qualifyer against Belize on June 13, the team will play the Earthquakes on Saturday, June 5 in San Jose. “This is a day that I have long dreamed about,” said Yallop, who grew up in New Westminster. “I took great pride in playing for my country and to be named head coach of the Canadian men’s national team is indeed a great honour. I was involved in World Cup Qualifying as a player for the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and I am eager to get started on trying to qualify for 2006.” Yallop began his coaching career in 1998 with the US Project-40 team on a five-game tour of England. After the completion of the tour, he was hired as an assistant coach in Tampa Bay, where he had played from 1996-1998. In 2000, he served as the chief assistant to Thomas Rongen, who coached him in 1996 with the Mutiny, with three-time MLS Champion DC United. He was hired as head coach of the Earthquakes in February, 2001 and took them from a league worst 7-17-8 record in 2000 to a 13-7-6 record in 2001 and the MLS championship. For his efforts, Yallop was named the 2001 MLS Coach of the Year. In 2002 the team compiled a record of 14-11-3 but was knocked out of the playoffs. In 2003, the team posted the best record in the MLS and defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in a home and away two game series 5-4 on aggregate, despite losing the first game 2-0 and being down 4-0 on aggregate before scoring five consecutive goals. The team then defeated the Kansas City Wizards in the Western Conference Final and the Chicago Fire in the MLS Cup on November 23, 2003. Yallop was a finalist for the 2003 MLS Coach of the Year. Yallop’s playing career spanned nearly 20 years both in England and the United States. A gritty and tough defender, he made 376 appearances and scored nine goals with Ipswich Town FC in England, the team with which he signed his first professional contract at the age of 16. From 1996-1998, he played in 88 games, and was named the Mutiny’s Defender of the Year in both 1997 and 1998. Yallop enjoyed an excellent international career and was a stalwart on the Canadian defence throughout the Nineties. He made his debut against Mexico in 1990 and then became a regular on the Canadian defence, appearing in every match he was available for from his debut through to the end of qualifying for the 1998 World Cup. His final game was against Costa Rica in 1997. He was named captain in 1997 for a World Cup Qualifyer against the USA. Yallop will move to Vancouver with his wife Karen and sons Jack and Samuel in February and will work out of the new CSA national teams’ office in downtown Vancouver at the Vancouver Whitecaps offices.
      And non-Earthquakes MLS fans around the country rejoice.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
I am an Earthquakes fan. And I am rejoicing. This is wonderful for Franky. Just wonderful. Something he's worked long and hard to accomplish. I couldn't be happier for him. I also know that he's leaving the team in the hands of a very capable person...Dom. This is a great day. Our franchise has produced a national team coach. The fishin' San Jose Earthquakes have a coach that a national team wanted and went to a lot of effort to get. There's no bad way to look at this.
Its still a shock even thought we knew it was coming..... But, all the best to Frank no one can take away what he's done for us and it is the pinnicle of a managerial career to manage one's country and he so deserves it!!! (hopefully one day he can perhaps go back to England and make them a great team again!!)... I am sad but very happy for him. Good Luck Frank!! -Richard
A VERY bittersweet day. I'm extremely happy for Frank that he can fulfill a dream of his and gain this position. I'm extremely sad for the Quakes and it is most definitely the end of a (great) era. (Though it may continue with Kinnear.) At the end of the day, I'll simply be happy about the last three years (with the exception of the Columbus playoff series in 2002), and will be looking forward to 2004.
      I'm happy for Yallop personally, but am sad for the Earthquakes and its fans. The Frank Yallop era is now officially over.       And the U.S. National Team will now have yet another tough opponent to get past in World Cup Qualifiers.       If Kinnear becomes the new head coach (which he most likely will), will he, like Yallop did before him, be able to keep a necessary distance between himself and the players while still relating with them?       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
what will the quakes get in return? does anybody know what the quakes will get in return for releasing Yallop two years early from his contract? -iowa007
That will be a perfect occasion for the presentation of Frank's 2003 Championship ring. (Really glad to see that someone thought of this as part of the contract buyout -- kudos to the Quakes' front office.)
Re: what will the quakes get in return?       I was hoping that the CSA would build the Earthquakes a new SSS in San Jose... but as that would anger just about everyone here (except me), I doubt that will happen.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
FYI - here's the news from the Quakes website: FRANK YALLOP STEPS DOWN AS EARTHQUAKES COACH TO BECOME HEAD COACH OF CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM Yallop to Assume Responsibilities in Canada on January 1st SAN JOSE, CA (December 16, 2003) – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that Frank Yallop has stepped down as head coach of the team to become the new head coach of the Canadian National Team. Yallop announced his decision today at a press conference at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia. “I enjoyed my three seasons in San Jose tremendously,” said Yallop. “These past three years have been unbelievable. I would like to thank Dominic Kinnear, who did an outstanding job as assistant coach and Tim Hanley for his excellent work with our goalkeepers. I would also like to thank General Manager Johnny Moore, the players, the front office staff and the fans for their support during my time here. The fans have been great to me since I first arrived and I want to thank them for their loyalty and for sticking with this team no matter the situation.” During his three seasons as head coach of the Earthquakes (2001-2003), Yallop won two MLS Cup Championships while posting a 41-25-18 record, which was the best mark in MLS during that stretch. Yallop, 39, was also named MLS Coach of the Year in 2001 after taking over a team that posted a league-worst 7-17-8 record in 2000 and leading them to the MLS Cup Championship in 2001. The former Canadian international defender leaves San Jose as the all-time leader in wins in club history (41). “During the past three seasons, Frank has done an outstanding job here in San Jose,” said Earthquakes General Manager Johnny Moore. “Obviously, we are disappointed to lose a great coach and a great person; however, we understand his decision and we fully support him. We know that he has strong roots in Canada and we wish him all the best there. We look forward to maintaining a great relationship with Frank and the Canadian Soccer Association.” Under Yallop, the Quakes broke numerous club records, including most points in a season (51), fewest goals allowed in a season (29), longest road unbeaten streak (7), longest unbeaten streak (12), and most consecutive wins at home (12). Many players flourished under Yallop’s tutelage as the Quakes had 13 players named to the All-Star team in Yallop’s three seasons and had five members selected to the MLS Best XI. Seven Earthquakes players also earned their first call-up to the senior men’s national team for training camps during Yallop’s tenure in San Jose. “This really was a very difficult decision for me, but I felt like taking the national team job for Canada was an opportunity that I could not pass up,” continued Yallop. “I wish the entire Earthquakes organization continued success in the future and I will always be a supporter of the San Jose Earthquakes and MLS.” Moore said, “On a personal note, I have really enjoyed working with Frank. I will always have an enormous amount of respect for him and what he accomplished here. Frank and I have always agreed that no one person is bigger than the club, so we have to move on and we have already started our coaching search. We hope to finalize this search in the next few weeks.” As part of the agreement for Yallop’s departure, the Earthquakes will also host the Canadian National Team on Saturday, June 5 at Spartan Stadium. That match will be Canada’s final tune-up prior to the start of World Cup Qualifying.
I kind of chuckled when I read "I am delighted to be able to welcome Frank Yallop as our new head coach of the Men’s World Cup Team,” said CSA President Andy Sharpe..." When was the last time Canada made it to the World Cup? Or maybe it's just a show of incredible faith in Frank?
He's already been removed from the "Team Staff" page http://www.sjearthquakes.com/the_team/coaches_index.htm
      If Kinnear is to be the head coach, who will become the assistant coach? There've been some talk of Agoos becoming player/assistant coach, but look how well that type of arrangement worked out in DC this past season.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
I wouldn't worry about that, they'll have to eliminate two teams out of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala just to face us in the Hexagonal. We could even finish behind Canada in the Hex and still go to the World Cup if we finish ahead of Jamaica and Trinidad.
Are you seriously trying to compare the attitude of Agoos to Hristo? Anyways, good luck to Frank in WCQ and good luck to Dom next season.
      No, but would Kinnear be able to pull Agoos out of a game without Agoos getting seriously pissed-off at him (not necessarily in front of the other players, but behind closed doors after the game)?       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Best of everything to Frank! But I am so freakin' depressed. Will 2003 become a " Dream Team " for Clakes followers , a never repeated again perfect balance of youthful confidence , veterans' steady influence , coaches wise and risky decisions , strokes of brilliance by general manager , non-interfering ownership , feverishly dedicated ragtag band of fans , and pure soccer luck ? We witnessed something once-in-a-lifetime special , will Frank's departure signal TBOTE ( the beginning of the end )? A lot of people mention that Ekelund is expandable , to me he was the glue of the team ( remember last 3 games without him ) , we can not afford to lose any players ( outside of glut of forwards ). Sic transit gloria mundi.
With all due respect, why do people keep asking this question? What proof do you have that he wouldn't be able to do this? What "information"/"evidence"...I can't think of the right word here...do you have to support this line of logic? This is coming off wrong cuz I can't think of the right dang word. I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just trying to see the line of reasoning here that has fans worried at this. What's going through your heads? Not just you Goodsie, but anyone else who feels this way....
I think Agoos is the right choice for assistant. He has the teams respect and support already. Its a way to keep him in San Jose. His undestanding of the game is top notch and he has the desire to sucede. I think any other choice will be wrong. As an aside to this move it will safe us some salary cap room. I been espousing this move for a couple of years now, and now the time is right. I also think he could work well with Dom as Dom comes across as the more vocal "excitable" type of coach whereas Agoos is more introspective...a combination like we already have. The only other move that would be needed will be I think we would need another captain as I don't think being an assistant coach and a captain is a good idea. As far a substitutions are concerned, it could be an issue, but I think both are professional enough to deal with it and the authority has to come from the bench as they are the ones that can see the whole picture. There have been examples where player-managers have been substitued by there assistants so once both guys get used to it I do not forsee a problem. I'd also love to keep Ekelund, but, there (I think can only be one assistant) and I think Agoos is better equiped for that roll right now. Here's hoping.. -Richard
Well, it's official....and I am officially sad. The thoughts on Agoos being player/coach...I read on another board that the Quakes are shopping Eklund and/or Agoos around due to salary cap. Can that possibly be true? Agoos is the captain, for crying out loud. He's an inspirational leader. I think he must stay if we're losing Yallop.