In a stunning and swift decision, Bruce Arena has been let go as sporting director and head coach of the New York Red Bulls, it was announced Monday by Marc de Grandpre, the club's managing director.
"It was a mutual agreement between us," de Grandpre said in a conference call with reporters. "I talked about the vision for this club, where I wanted it to be and what the expectations were and we agreed mutually that this was the right decision for the club and Bruce Arena."
Arena spent 15 months in charge of the Red Bulls, compiling a regular-season record of 16-16-10 and his team was eliminated in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs in successive years.
"Marc and I discussed the direction of the team and decided mutually that this was the best move for Red Bull New York," Arena said in a statement. "I wish the organization the best of luck in the future."
According to de Grandpre, a "worldwide search" for a new coach will begin immediately and that the decision to hire the organization's 11th coach will be his alone. The same can be said for the reason to part ways with Arena, who reportedly still had two years remaining on his contract.
"I understand there's been numerous coaches throughout this franchise history. I've only been responsible for one," de Grandpre said. "I do understand that stability is important, but with the amount of resources that we committed to this franchise, we expect results quickly. Bruce was in charge of the entire soccer operations from soup to nuts. It was his responsibility and obviously we didn't attain our objectives this year."
One name that has already surfaced as a possible candidate is former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello, who is currently serving as a commentator for Italian network RAI. Capello, who also coached Italian powerhouses A.C. Milan, Juventus and AS Roma, made worldwide headlines during the summer when he said he was mulling a decision to coach in the United States.
"They have contacted me from the United States, however I must think about it," he told Italian daily Gazzetta Dello Sport in July.
When asked if Capello's name was on the list being compiled, de Grandpre said "not yet."
Several times late in the season, Arena spoke about the improvement the Red Bulls have made in his first full season, that the team finished with four more points this season and had finished in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, one place higher than the previous season.
But de Grandpre, who was seen leaving the Red Bulls locker room at Gillette Stadium shortly after the club was eliminated from the MLS Cup Playoffs following a 1-0 loss Saturday to the New England Revolution, said the Red Bulls fell short of what he described as lofty annual expectations.
"It's a combination of things," he said. "But ultimately winning the MLS Cup is the goal."
De Grandpre said the next coach will not hold the dual position of sporting director and that Jeff Agoos' job of technical director will be eliminated and that Agoos would be considered a candidate for the sporting director position.
Agoos will also be in charge of the team's moves for the expansion draft later this month if a new head coach isn't hired by then. As for the club's current assistant coaches - John Harkes, Richie Williams and Des McAleenan - their status will be determined by the new coach.
As for Arena's future, that remains unclear. The former U.S. national team coach wasn't available for comment, but there is at least one other high-profile MLS job available now that Frank Yallop left Los Angeles to coach the expansion team in San Jose.
For those who are critical of what could be perceived as a knee-jerk decision, de Grandpre offers up Juan Carlos Osario in Chicago as an example of how quickly a team can turn things around in MLS.
"I think it just goes to show that with the right chemistry and teacher on the bench," de Grandpre said, "you can turn things around fairly quickly."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
