It was a busy week for Toronto FC head coaches, past and present. Mo Johnston oversaw the Reds' MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia, Preki was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and John Carver made headlines in England by invoking a little-used word in soccer these days: loyalty.
After abruptly leaving Toronto FC back in April 2009, Carver spent most of last summer back home in Newcastle awaiting a call from his old friend Alan Shearer asking him to join the Geordie legend on the St. James Park coaching staff. But dysfunction reigned at Newcastle United throughout much of 2009 and the anticipated appointment of Shearer as the Magpies manager didn't materialize.
But while Carver's much hoped for return to St. James Park didn't happen, it was a Newcastle connection that led to his eventual return to English football at the end of December. Carver was the late Sir Bobby Robson's right-hand man during much of the legendary manager's tenure at Newcastle, and had a very short stint as the team's caretaker boss after Robson's dismissal in 2004. Robson always stated that one of his greatest transfer deals was the signing of the young Paul Mariner for Ipswich Town from Plymouth Argyle back in 1976.
The former New England Revolution assistant coach knew of his old gaffer's high regard for Carver and the pair crossed paths a few times during Carver's tenure in Toronto. When Mariner took over the reins as Plymouth Argyle manager in December, one of his first calls was to Carver.
Having had coaching stints with Leeds United and Luton Town between his gigs with Newcastle and Toronto FC, Carver was well versed in life outside the Premiership and especially the lot of English teams struggling under financial pressure. Seemingly like most teams in England, Plymouth have ongoing financial issues, but the new ownership at Home Park has big ambitions, and Carver jumped at the opportunity to join Mariner in his new venture.
Back in 1620 a different John Carver set sail from Plymouth on the Mayflower, and last week it looked like the Pilgrim namesake was going to jump the modern-day Plymouth ship. With his surprise appointment as Burnley manager, Brian Laws quickly contacted Carver with an offer to join him at Turf Moor and a return to coaching in the EPL.
While Burnley's EPL status is precarious, so is Plymouth's in the Championship. Carver was on a short-term contract (reportedly 3-1/2 months) with Argyle and not too many folks would blame the former Toronto boss for heading to Lancashire. As fate would have it, at the time the Burnley offer became breaking news in England, Plymouth was getting set for an FA Cup replay against Newcastle at St. James Park. Carver's beloved Magpies dumped his new team out of the cup 3-0, but rather than dump his new managerial partner and players and head to the EPL, Carver announced he was staying at Plymouth.
In deciding to stay at Plymouth, Carver talked about his belief in the owner's plans for the team and the good vibe he sensed around the club, but most of all the sense of loyalty he felt to Mariner. His fellow MLS alumnus was quick to reciprocate, telling The Western Morning News, "You have to appreciate the magnitude of John staying at this club. You have to understand just where he stands in the coaching ranks in the world, not just in England. This guy could work wherever he wants to, but he has been loyal to this club."
That loyalty was quickly rewarded: Carver receiving a new 2 1/2-year contract this week. Contracts, of course, are made to be broken, and in soccer no one ever knows what the future holds, but at least in this case, the coach has carved out a new niche at Plymouth and displayed a loyalty that is rare in football these days. He also made himself a hero to long suffering fans not used to anyone passing up potential EPL glory to keep Home Park as home.
Mark C. Young is an Emmy Award-winning freelance writer/TV producer who has covered several FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. He is a contributor to Goal.com and also writes for the blog "No Mas."