10 Managers That Could Take Over for Houston or LAFC
With less than two months to go until the start of the 2022 MLS season, there are still two clubs without head coaches; LAFC & the Houston Dynamo. While we’ve heard rumors about potential General Managers and Coaches coming in under the new-ish Houston ownership group, LAFC has been very quiet after the departure of Bob Bradley. I’m not going try and predict or sell you on who Houston of LA will/should hire, but there are a few people who I’d love to see take the reigns at these clubs.
Most Realistic Manager Options: Dom Kinnear & John Wolyniec
Dom Kinnear hasn’t been an MLS Manager since 2017, where he was fired by San Jose after three mediocre seasons. However, prior to that, Kinnear was the Manager of the Houston Dynamo, where he would win back-to-back MLS cups in 2006 and 2007. Since his time at San Jose, Kinnear has been a part of the LA Galaxy coaching staff, even serving as Interim Manager a couple times. Kinnear has a winning history in MLS and is someone who I feel is universally admired around the league. As for John Wolyniec, it was a tale of “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” during his time in the Red Bull system. Wolyniec managed over 200 games for NY Red Bulls II in USL, winning the USL Cup in 2016, and never seemed to get a look at the RBNY coaching vacancies. I think Woly has proven that he can win and put a quality product out onto the field year in and year out, often doing a lot with a little. To me, both seem like an ideal Dynamo hire, unless LAFC go with a less flashy Head Coach after Bradley.
Potential Returning MLS Managers: Jesse Marsch & Dome Torrent
Many dubbed Jesse Marsch the future Bayern Munich Manager after his success within the Red Bull organization. Marsch was Manager of the New York Red Bull before getting promoted to RB Salzburg Manager, only to be promoted again to RB Leipzig Manager. Despite his success in New York and Austria, his time as Manager in Germany did not end as many Americans had hoped: Marsch and RB Leipzig mutually parted ways just a few months ago. However, Marsch is still easily one of the most promising young head coaches on the planet today. Could that be enticing for LAFC, whose only manager was once a promising young American head coach as well? I think this move would make sense. However, another option for both clubs could be Dome Torrent. Like Marsch within the Red Bull system, Torrent came into his managerial job with NYCFC after thriving within the City Football Group. Learning under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Torrent brought his own style to NYCFC and won a ton of games within MLS. Unfortunately, his time ended due to disagreements with the NYCFC front office. Torrent would go on to manager Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A, but was let go after roughly 20 games. I think Torrent could be a bright, though not as flashy, option for either club in 2022 and beyond.
Managers with U.S. Ties: Jurgen Klinsmann, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo & Frank Lampard
If nothing else but for the sheer comedy of it, I would love to see Jurgen Klinsmann take over as an MLS Head Coach somewhere - just the drama and headlines alone would be amazing. To be fair to Klinsmann, he has a knowledge of the U.S. player pool and has managed two clubs in Germany: he is technically qualified. That said, seeing him coach down in Texas or in Los Angeles would be a spectacle. Also, his son Jonathan is a goalkeeper for the LA Galaxy… could this lead to a little father/son Los Angeles rivalry? Another name that is interesting to me, despite not drawing much attention, Alessandro Nesta. The former Serie A star finished his playing career with the Montreal Impact and has experience as a manager. Nesta managed The Miami FC for their inaugural 2015 season, where he would go on to win an NASL title, before making the jump to Italy’s Serie B, Where he would manage Perugia and Frosinone. Nesta was fired from Frosinone in March, but I think a return to the U.S. could be an interesting career move for him.
Another former MLS player that could enjoy a return as manager is Andrea Pirlo. Pirlo’s first Manager position came with Italy Serie A side Juventus. While Juventus is a huge club, managing a club of this size comes with positives and negatives. Though Juventus has a ton of talent, cash, and worldwide recognition, a Manager position of this magnitude also comes with a short leash and a life under the microscope. I think if Pirlo is serious about his managerial career, it might be a good idea to come back to MLS, where many managers have started or rehabbed their careers. Not only is Pirlo a known commodity in the U.S. – he also understands the league and knows the roster constraints. Managing a club in a major US city like Los Angeles or Houston is just as nice as Turin, right? Finally, in a similar vein to Pirlo, I think Frank Lampard deserves a shot in MLS. Lamps is yet another player who finished their career within MLS. After retiring, Lampard started his managerial career wit EFL Championship side Derby County, before moving on to his now-famous stint as Chelsea manager in the Premier League. For someone with his overall reputation and decent tactical prowess, I think Lampard would be a great manager who could attract players to whatever club he is managing in MLS.
Longshot Manager Options: Jonathan Woodgate & Thomas Schneider
Personally, I am a huge fan of Jonathan Woodgate – I would throw him in with Jesse Marsch as another talented, young soccer manager. Woodgate did a fantastic job with EFL Championship side AFC Bournemouth after Jason Tindall was fired, winning 13 of his 23 games as Interim Manager. Maybe the former English International will ask his (I’m assuming) friend Phil Neville and venture into MLS waters. The final person on my list is former German National Team Assistant Manager Thomas Schneider. Put simply, Schneider knows how to win. He was an assistant manager under Joachim Low for 4 years, during which Germany was an international soccer powerhouse. Schneider’s managerial debut with German Bundesliga’s VFB Stuttgart did not go well, but I think the time spent learning and developing within the German Football Association may have to open eyes a bit.
