MLS Coaching Carousel Update

DC United Hires Curt Onalfo

This hiring is proof that experience in MLS counts for a ton in the eyes of most MLS front offices. Onalfo's record in Kansas City was hardly stellar but his knowledge of the league's league-owned salary structure, arcane roster and transfer rules and the American talent pool means that his learning curve won't be as steep as it would be for first-time foreign coaches. We've repeatedly seen big name foreign coaches come here and flop (Gullit, Querioz, Bora Milutinovic, Mo Johnston, etc). Steve Nichol is the best example of a foreign coach doing very well here, but he spent time as an assistant first. Sigi Schmidt is a great example of a retread MLS coach who was able to put it all together after a few tries and DC will be hoping that Onalfo has the same sort of luck.

New Jersey Soft Drink Hires Hans Backe

Backe had a great record coaching in Copenhagen and Aalborg, but he's spent the last five years as Sven Goren Eriksson's lap dog, following him to the Mexico job and then bizarrely resigning the head coaching job at Notts County after just 7 weeks, though enough reports of trouble there have surfaced that we can assume this one wasn't all his fault. More alarming for Soft Drink fans is that the new GM, Erik Soler, is also new to MLS and the only "wise old head" in the front office is Jeff Agoos whose tenure up to this point has been less than stellar to put it kindly. They did retain twice jilted assistant Richie Williams, who's done more than enough to win the job in his two stints as interim manager. This is a swing for the fences, and as all of you baseball fans know that often ends with a big fat K.

Chicago Fire hires Carlos de los Cobos

I don't know anything about do les Cobos except that El Salvador played their asses off in WC10 qualifying. He has the benefit of a strong executive in Frankie Klopas, who's been in MLS as a player and executive since the league was founded. Frank's going to be driving player acquisition, and with this appointment we can assume that they'll be mining Mexico for talent, as much for marketing as playing purposes. I think the Fire will be sad to discover that Blanco's popularity and ability to draw Hispanic fans was a phenomenon rather than a trend. Then again there's a fine chance that this season will be contested in court rather than on the field due to the impending work stoppage, so perhaps all of this is moot.