Red Bull New York announced Thursday that Marc De Grandpre has been named the club's managing director, replacing Alexi Lalas, who resigned from the role of president and general manager earlier in the week to take a similar post at the Los Angeles Galaxy. De Grandpre will begin working in the position immediately.
"Over the past two months, I've had an opportunity to really get to know this club and am thrilled to help take it to the next level," De Grandpre said.
In the role of managing director, De Grandpre will be responsible for all of the business and commercial aspects of the team. A director of soccer operations is expected to be named soon, and that person will be responsible for all technical aspects of the team, including coaches, players, travel and training staff members.
Mo Johnston will continue in his role as the head coach of the Red Bulls. He will report to De Grandpre until a director of soccer operations is named, at which point the Scotland native will begin reporting to that person.
De Grandpre joins the club after more than seven years of service at Red Bull North America, where he was the director of field marketing. In that role he oversaw all activities for the company's east region. De Grandpre was a key cog in the purchase and re-branding of the MetroStars, which Red Bull bought from AEG in March. Red Bull also owns and operates a soccer team in Austria, Red Bull Salzburg. De Grandpre is expected to work closely with the staff at that club for future collaborative activities.
The Red Bulls are 0-0-3 in the 2006 season, having earned draws with D.C. United (April 2), the New England Revolution (April 8) and Real Salt Lake (April 15). They host United for the second Atlantic Cup match of the season this weekend at Giants Stadium, with the game set to commence at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
