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Top 10 Philly M.L.S. coaching candidates
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Dave Sarachan coaching the Chicago Fire
Expansion teams in Major League Soccer have, historically, gone down one of two paths. The first path is to be expected from an expansion team; the team struggles in its first season due to lack of player depth, and misses the playoffs. Real Salt Lake took this path in its first season in 2005. Their coach was John Ellinger, a U-17 U.S. national team coach. He was an extremely successful youth coach. However, many felt that he didn’t have the MLS coaching experience to be successful in MLS. This turned out to be the case, as Ellinger was fired after two seasons. Ellinger was, most likely, not familiar enough with the league and its players.
The second path an expansion team can take is rare; an outstanding inaugural season leading to an MLS Championship. This feat was accomplished by the Chicago Fire in 1998, with their head coach Bob Bradley (current U.S. Men’s National Team coach). Bradley had been an assistant coach with DC United for two seasons. He knew the league, and he knew the players. And this is the key. An expansion team’s first head coach must know Major League Soccer; he needs to know how the league works. MLS is different from any other league in the world. Hiring a high-profile European coach is risky. LA Galaxy brought in Dutch soccer legend Ruud Gullit as their head coach in 2008; he was fired half-way into the season. Gullit was unable to adapt to the league. Philadelphia’s MLS team must hire a coach who is experienced with the league. With that said, here are the top 10 coaching candidates who have that MLS experience:
10. Cobi Jones
The U.S soccer legend has been in the league since day 1, and now he has coaching experience. Jones played for the LA Galaxy from 1996 to 2007, and after his retirement, became an assistant coach for LA. You can argue that nobody knows the league better than Cobi. The passion that he brought on the field will undoubtedly transfer over to his coaching style. He could be the perfect coach for an exciting, upstart team. The only problem would be prying Cobi from LA, where he has resided for a large portion of his life.
9. Claudio Reyna
Nobody in U.S soccer history has a higher soccer IQ than Reyna. The captain of the U.S. national team for a number of years, Claudio demonstrated the leadership necessary to become a successful head coach. Although he played most of his career in Europe, Claudio did play for the New York Red Bulls for two seasons. He has been featured as an MLS analyst for ESPN and is very familiar with the league. He has also revealed his desire to coach. The New Jersey native may not become a head coach immediately, but he should absolutely be considered by Philadelphia as a member of the coaching staff.
8. Peter Vermes
Vermes is the current technical director of the Kansas City Wizards. Vermes is an MLS veteran, having played for the NY/NJ MetroStars, Colorado Rapids, and Kansas City Wizards. He has over 60 caps for the U.S. national team, and played in the 1990 World Cup. After his playing career, he was an assistant coach for the U-20 U.S. national team. Vermes is a hot commodity in MLS, as many teams have inquired about him for numerous roles. He resides close to Philadelphia in Burlington county in New Jersey, and there are rumors that Vermes is interested in working for the Philly MLS team. Vermes may also be considered for a General Manager position.
7. Earnie Stewart
Stewart, another U.S soccer legend, has made his soccer career in Holland where he currently resides. A veteran of three World Cups (94,98,2002), Stewart is currently the technical director at NAC Breda of the top-flight soccer league in Holland. He has MLS experience, as he played for DC United for two seasons in ‘03 and ‘04. Stewart has an astounding 101 caps for the U.S. national team, and has established himself as one of the most important figures in U.S. soccer history. Stewart would have a lot to offer to the Philly MLS team, and he should be considered for an important role with the club.
6. Thomas Rongen
Rongen is one of the most experienced MLS coaches in the league’s history. The Dutch-born Rongen started his playing career for the storied club Ajax Amsterdam. He began his head coaching career for the MLS’s Tampa Bay Mutiny in the league’s inaugural season, where he won MLS Coach of the Year. He later won an MLS Cup with DC United as their head coach. Rongen has also coached the New England Revolution and Chivas USA. He is currently the head coach of the U-20 U.S. national team. If Philly MLS is looking for experience, they can’t go wrong with Rongen.
5. Mike Sorber
Sorber, a veteran of the famous 1994 U.S. World Cup team, has been a part of the U.S soccer scene since 1989. He was a standout player in college for St. Louis University, and soon got his first cap for the U.S team in 1992. An MLS original, he played for the league from 1996 to 2000. Sorber got into coaching very quickly as an assistant coach for St. Louis University, and later became second-in-command to Bob Bradley for the U.S national team. Sorber was an extremely intelligent player in his day, and is a legitimate head coaching candidate.
4. Paul Mariner
The Lancashire, England native had a distinguished playing career, playing for English clubs like Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, and Arsenal. He also made 35 appearances for England, including a spot on the 1982 World Cup team. He is currently an assistant coach for the New England Revolution. He has spent six season in MLS, and like Peter Vermes, has been a hot commodity. Almost every MLS team has been linked with Mariner regarding a head coaching position. He has helped lead the Revolution to three MLS Cups, and could be an excellent first coach for Philadelphia.
3. John Harkes
Harkes is the third U.S. soccer legend on the list. With over 90 caps for the National team and two MLS Cup titles, Harkes is one of the most successful U.S soccer players of all time. He played in two World Cups (1990,1994) and was a tremendous leader for the national team. He had a successful career in England before coming to MLS in 1996. After six seasons in MLS, he retired in 2002. From there, he was an assistant coach under Bruce Arena for the New York Red Bulls. He also has coaching experience for U.S youth national teams, and is familiar with many of the league’s young players on a first-hand basis. He is currently a color commentator for ESPN’s broadcasts of MLS games. Not many people have deeper knowledge of MLS and its players than John Harkes.
2. Peter Nowak
A legend in his own right in Poland, Peter Nowak made a name for himself in the U.S. fairly quickly. He signed for the Chicago Fire in 1998, and led the team to an MLS Cup in the club’s first year of existence. After four years in the league, Nowak retired. DC United appointed Nowak as their head coach, and he soon led the club to another MLS Cup. He is currently the head coach of the U-23 U.S men’s team, and an assistant to Bob Bradley for the U.S national team. Known for his passion and dedication as a player and a coach, Nowak will be considered for the head coaching position for the Philly MLS team.
1. Dave Sarachan
Sarachan has over nine years of MLS coaching experience, making him the #1 head coaching candidate for the Philly MLS team. He began his coaching career at Cornell University, where he was the head coach their for ten years. In 1997, Bruce Arena hired Sarachan as his assistant coach at DC United. After two seasons at DC, Sarachan followed Bruce Arena to the U.S. national team where he served as the assistant coach to the successful 2002 World Cup team. He was soon hired as the head coach of the Chicago Fire. In his first year at Chicago, he led the team to the MLS Cup and won MLS Coach of the Year. He stayed on as the head coach of the Fire until 2007. He is currently an assistant coach for the LA Galaxy under Bruce Arena. Sarachan’s impressive MLS and U.S. national team resume makes him an ideal choice for Philadelphia. He is the only coach on the list to hold an MLS head coaching position for 5 consecutive years. Look for Dave to garner serious consideration for the job.
Other candidates to be considered for coaching staff/management:
John Spencer
Eric Wynalda
Tab Ramos
Tony Meola
Joe-Max Moore
Ray Hudson
Colin Clarke
Fernando Clavijo
Answer to last week's trivia: Who is the only player in the history of the FIFA World Cup to have played in three straight World Cup finals? - Cafu (Brazil): 1994,1998,2002
Email me at tua03554@temple.edu
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