FRISCO, Texas – Schellas Hyndman paced the sideline at Toyota Stadium as coach of FC Dallas for the final time on Saturday afternoon. And his team sent him out with a 2-0 victory over a Seattle Sounders team that was still in contention for the Supporter’s Shield.
It meant a lot to the Dallas players, to get the manager his last win at home.
“I think it was really important, especially for me," Dallas defender Matt Hedges told reporters. "He drafted me and gave me a chance in the league and I just wanted to show my thanks to him for that and it was nice to send him out of the last home game with a win over a good Seattle team.”
The game ball, which had been signed by every player, was presented to Hyndman after the match. Goalkeeper Chris Seitz echoed Hedges’ appreciation for the coach bringing him to the club and said that, “we definitely wanted to leave him at home on a good note. He deserves it and it’s the least we can do for him.”
Captain David Ferreira has played his entire five-year MLS career under Hyndman and said that while it has been an honor to play under him as a coach, the relationship he’s built with Hyndman off the field is what he’ll cherish.
“He always treated everyone with respect, with great heart, trust and confidence in all the players,” Ferreira said through an interpreter. “The one thing I’m taking with me is the person, knowing the person more than the coach and I’m always going to respect and be grateful for that and I hope that whatever he decides to do in the future, that with the grace of God he’ll have the best he can get.”
Hyndman seemed more like himself after the somber mood of the Friday press conference where he announced his resignation. He flashed an easy smile and joked with reporters before reflecting on his final home match as coach of FC Dallas.
“As you all know, yesterday was a difficult day for the club, for our owners, for the players and for my family,” Hyndman shared. “We hoped that the players would show up today and have a good match. We hoped that they would win for all those people I just mentioned and our fans.
"It’s been difficult, the last week, but it is a great ending for my career here at FC Dallas. It couldn’t be any better. We showed up, the guys played with urgency, they played with character.”
After reporters were finished asking questions of him, coach Hyndman offered an unprompted final goodbye to the club he has coached for the last five and a half years.
“On a final note, it’s been fun, guys. This is a great organization, a great team and this club is going to go places. Not only [the first team], but our academy," Hyndman said. "My wife asked me today, ‘Are you going to miss this?’ And I said 'I’ll miss it every day. I’ll miss you guys as well. Thank you.'”
Matt Barbour covers FC Dallas for MLSsoccer.com.
