SECAUCUS, NJ - MetroStars President and General Manager Alexi Lalas announced today that Bob Bradley has been relieved of his Head Coaching duties effective immediately. MetroStars Assistant Coach Mo Johnston will take over the coaching duties on an interim basis.
"On behalf of the organization I want to thank Bob for the professional, dedicated and passionate manner with which he did his job," said MetroStars President and General Manager Alexi Lalas. "He is a quality coach and a class individual; it's unfortunate that, at times, this team has failed to live up to the loyalty and faith that he has consistently shown them. We still have an opportunity to make the playoffs and our fans expect and deserve a team that will fight to the end. I felt this change was necessary to help with that endeavor."
Bradley, who managed the club since 2003, has an overall record of 32-31-26 in the regular season and a playoff record of 0-3-1 while at the helm of the "Red and Black." Last season he became the first coach in MLS history to reach the 100 career regular season win plateau, with a victory over the Chicago Fire on July 24, 2004. Prior to coming to the MetroStars, Bradley served as the Head Coach of the Chicago Fire from 1998-2002, winning one MLS Cup and two U.S. Open Cups with the club.
Mo Johnston, who is one of the most decorated soccer players in Scottish history, was in his third season as an assistant coach with the MetroStars before being promoted to interim head coach today.
Johnston, 40, retired in 2001 following six seasons in Major League Soccer, earning three MLS All-Star selections as a member of the Kansas City Wizards. Prior to joining MLS, Johnston played 15 seasons in Europe, scoring 310 goals in 529 games for Scottish clubs such as Partick Thistle, Hearts of Midlothian, Falkirk, Celtic and Rangers, as well as Watford (England), Everton (England) and Nantes (France).
"First of all I want to wish Bob Bradley the best. He was a great teacher and a great friend," said MetroStars Interim Head Coach Mo Johnston. "I am extremely excited about the challenge that lies ahead. We have three games left, and my goal is to get this team into the playoffs."
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, the forward/midfielder also earned 30 caps with 15 goals in an international career that included the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Johnston scored six goals in eight games in helping his native Scotland qualify for the '90 World Cup.
In 1989, he returned to Scottish soccer from Nantes to play for Rangers, becoming the first Catholic since World War II to play for the club, which he helped lead to consecutive league championships from 1990-93.
The MetroStars are in action next on Wednesday, October 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET when they battle the Fire in Chicago.
