Mo Johnston has been dismissed as head coach of the New York Red Bulls, it was announced Tuesday morning. The decision was made by Red Bull New York Managing Director Marc de Grandpre, who cited the team's poor performance in the first three months of the season.
"The decision was based on results and performance of the team on the field and the decision was made late last night," De Grandpre said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon.
As was the case when Johnston replaced Bob Bradley when he was let go last October, assistant Richie Williams will serve as interim head coach until a permanent replacement is found. Although unlike Johnston, who guided the MetroStars into the playoffs with a late-season run a year ago, Williams is considered a longshot for the long term.
De Grandpre said no one has been contacted yet, although there is growing speculation that perhaps U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena could be a major player here. His contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation runs out at the end of the year and he has had unparalleled success at every level he's coached, from the University of Virginia to D.C. United to the national team.
The combination of a lucrative deal from Red Bull and the possibility of being both the director of soccer operations and head coach might lure the New Yorker, who told reporters in Germany he is exploring his options, back home.
"We're evaluating the current structure as we speak and once we identify the candidate, we'll determine how we're going to move forward," De Grandpre said. "In terms of Bruce, no, we have not spoken to anyone and at this time we are not going to talk about specifics regarding who we will talk to."
Johnston spent eight months as coach and compiled an overall record of 5-4-8. Through 12 games this year, the Red Bulls are 2-3-7 and sit in last place in the Eastern Conference.
"Based on results, we want to show the fans that these past results were unacceptable and we want to make sure the play on the field improves," De Grandpre said. "Whenever there's major change, there's going to be a period of transition and before the dust settles there's going to be some uncertainty. At this point we're trying to eliminate that uncertainty and we're going to take our time in finding this new coach to ensure we're moving in the right direction."
For the most part, Red Bulls players were not surprised with the change, nor was there a sullen mood in the locker room after training Tuesday as was the case last year when Bradley was fired. There was a sense of inevitability that Johnston would get fired, especially after the Austrian energy drink company purchased the organization in March.
After having a trade pulled from him at the last second -- ironically a trade that would eventually go through for Jean Philippe Peguero -- Johnston told his team he believed he had coached his last day on April 20. He was given a vote of confidence by De Grandpre, but a little more than two months later, Johnston has been given his walking papers.
"According to what we've heard today, they've been interviewing coaches so Mo was never really in," Tony Meola said. "That was the consensus everyone got. It was either now or some other time and they chose now to make a decision."
While Johnston didn't address the team Tuesday, De Grandpre informed them of the change before training. The timing is difficult, to say the least, with a game against the Columbus Crew 24 hours away.
"What we're trying to do here is win games and I what I told the team this morning was that we need to try and put everything behind us off the field and on the field go out there and perform," Williams said. "That's what they're paid to do as professional soccer players, is go out there and perform and play well for the fans who are going to come and see us."
Through his experience as a former MetroStars player, Williams also thinks he can get the most of enigmatic Amado Guevara, who feuded with former president and general manager Alexi Lalas and Johnston over the past six months.
"I was flat out honest with him in terms of what we need from him in terms of us being successful. He seemed very positive and very comfortable with what I was saying," Williams said of the 2004 MLS MVP. "I'm hoping I can get through to Amado and get his play better because it needs to be better. I know it can, from the past from playing with him and seeing him, he is a better player that he's showed."
While they each might have their own opinion on who the next head coach should be, the one thing the Red Bulls players unilaterally agreed on is that the distractions need to stop.
"We keep changing things and keep changing things and they wonder why we haven't won anything around here," Mark Lisi said. "They keep changing things, it's tough to win with a new group, new coaches, new GM, new everything. You need to take some time to jell and hopefully they find someone who will be here long term."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
