While FC Dallas president and general manager Michael Hitchcock said the club will be undergoing a worldwide search for its new head coach, they will not be going far for two possible candidates -- current Hoops assistant coaches Steve Morrow and Oscar Pareja.
Morrow was Clarke's top assistant and also played in Dallas in 2002 and 2003. He ran practices for Clarke and was a conduit between the players and coaching staff. The former English Premier League standout for both Queen's Park Rangers and Arsenal feels he is an outstanding candidate for the job.
"It's a tough situation for Colin and we're all trying to get over that and deal with that," Morrow said. "The role of an assistant coach is a frustrating one. People have perceptions about what goes on outside. I want to be seen as a coach in my own individual right. Colin and I worked well together, but I'm also very different from him."
For Morrow, his experience from playing overseas and also in Dallas is what he feels will serve him well as FCD's next head coach.
"As we move forward, I know what needs to be done with this team," he said. "I've been around here a long time. I know what needs fixing, what the problems are. I know I can take this team forward. In my mind, there's no better person to do that than me. I have a wealth of experience that I'm ready to use. In my playing career, I've played with some of the best players in the world and under some of the best coaches and have learned a lot. I'm ready to take that on and know I can move this team forward."
Should Morrow get the job, one thing will be very different. Since he is only recently removed from his playing days, he will be more of a player's coach than Clarke. "I don't want to be seen to be criticizing Colin in any way, shape or form or pointing out any weaknesses of his," he said. "It's easier for me because it wasn't that long ago that I finished playing. To call me a player's coach -- I guess that's apt."
He also has two other skills crucial for every head coach's success. "Communication is key for me," Morrow said. "It's very, very important to have relationships with all the players. They feel that they can talk to me and have a respect for me and that's good for me. It's man management. For some of the best coaches back home that I admire, that's one of their top qualities. I have a couple of mentors back home and they tell me that as well. That's a very important skill to have and I think that I have it."
Like Morrow, Pareja also has extensive ties to Dallas. He played with the club from 1998 until 2005 and was named team MVP in both 2001 and 2002 and also to the MLS Best XI in 2001. He just completed his first season as an assistant coach with the team and spent his time working with fellow assistant Marco Ferruzzi developing the team's younger players.
"I think it's a hard moment for everybody right now," Pareja said. "I was waiting for the decision on the coach. Now that we know that Colin (Clarke) isn't going to be here, we are trying to digest it and deal with what is coming next. I know that the job is there to be taken. I'm just doing my job as an assistant coach because that is part of my responsibility."
For now, Pareja is taking a wait-and-see approach to decide whether or not he wants to be considered for the head coaching position.
"I will wait and see," he said. "It will take a week to see if I want to be part of that group and apply. I'm waiting to see how things are going to be presented. I think I don't have to say too much about myself. Everybody knows me and the job I can do. If I'm here as head coach or an assistant coach, I will do my best. If I have to go, I will go as well. I am open to doing anything."
One thing that Pareja feels is an advantage for both he and Morrow over any external candidates is their familiarity with the Dallas players and experience with the club.
"Being here with the group does give us an advantage," he said. "I've been here for nine years and know all the players. Steve (Morrow) has been here too and has spent the majority of the time working with the group."
For the time being, Morrow, Pareja and the rest of the coaching staff are focused on working with Hitchcock to decide which 11 players they will protect for the expansion draft for Toronto FC on Fri., Nov. 17.
"We're going through a stage right now where we're assessing the roster and assessing the players," Morrow said. "I've had several meetings with Michael Hitchcock so far. There's nothing I can tell you about individual players but we have a strategy in place.
"We have meetings lined up from all the players and want feedback from them," he added. "We're looking for things from them and things that we want to hear from them in terms of character and attitude. That's going to be important moving forward. That will definitely have a bearing on things. We have a strategy in place and have a clear view of what we want to do moving forward."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
