The Chicago Fire wanted to find a new coach that would uphold the team's philosophy of tradition, honor and passion. They found their man in El Salvador.
Carlos de los Cobos, 51, was introduced Monday as the fifth coach of the Chicago Fire in a Toyota Park press conference. Following the press conference, Cobos immediately joined team technical director Frank Klopas on a flight to Florida to take part in the adidas MLS Player Combine ahead of Thursday's SuperDraft.
Cobos most recently coached the El Salvador national team to the final round of qualifying for the World Cup in the CONCACAF region, producing the best result for that small country in more than a decade. He has previously played and coached in the Mexican Primera Division, including stints in both roles with Club America. He also has experience as both a player and coach with the Mexican national team.
"We are getting a world-class coach," Fire president Dave Greeley said. "This is a profound statement from our owner of his commitment to building the best front office in all of MLS soccer."
"There was only one candidate whose experience was unmatched as both player and coach," said Klopas, who said his coaching search spanned three continents. "Our owners, Andrew Hauptman, is especially committed to not only maintaining our club's philosophy of tradition, honor and passion, but to build on it, and believes as I do that Carlos fully embraces this philosophy."
De los Cobos received a 2-year contract from the Fire, although the team said it hoped the relationship would be for much longer than just the two years.
De los Cobos requested, in English, permission to conduct the press conference in his native tongue of Spanish, although he exhibited the ability to speak English slowly.
"This is a great opportunity for me to further my skills as a coach," De los Cobos said through an interpreter. "Every year I see the level of competition (in MLS) increase. That presents a great opportunity to me in my position as coach. My best is yet to come.
"I know the most important thing to win but there are different ways of winning, and my objective always been to play an attractive style by soccer, that can be enjoyed by the fans, involves a lot of ball movement, control of the ball, a lot of touches on the ball," he said.
Coaches who have come to MLS with no league experience have struggled in part because of the league's unique set of rules regarding player acquisition and salaries. Klopas said de los Cobos will be protected from those struggles by having experienced MLS people around him.
"Nowadays with myself and the assistant coaches we have, the transition for coaches from the outside coming in is easier, if you find the right people," Klopas said. "I think with those two pieces, and the work we have done from a scouting standpoint, the transition is a lot easier."
"I have to learn things quickly, not only the players but how things operate in this league," de los Cobos said. "It is a great responsibility. The job I do here may help others to break through into this league. That makes me work hard in approaching this challenge."
Javier Leon, the managing director of the Fire's ownership group, Andell Sports Group, said it was important not be afraid to make controversial moves, pointing to the decision to bring Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco into the league three years ago.
De los Cobos played soccer for 17 years with Mexican Primera Division teams, including 10 years with Club America. As a nationally known defender, he also played with the Mexican national team from 1983 through 1986, and was with the team in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico when the club reached the quarterfinal stage.
After working as a coach for Mexican club teams and as an assistant for the Mexican national team in CONCACAF Gold Cup competition, he accepted the challenge of resurrecting the fortunes of the El Salvador team, an effort which has been deemed a success.
"Carlos is widely credited for changing the international perception of Salvadoran soccer," Klopas said. "There was a sense of belief among the players on that team that he created."
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
