There was only one reason Clint Mathis left the German Bundesliga and returned for a second stint with Major League Soccer: John Ellinger.
The Red Bulls forward was looking forward to reuniting with an old friend when New York plays at Real Salt Lake Saturday night. But it will be another old friend, and teammate, who will be on the touchline for the home team at Rice-Eccles Stadium, as Jason Kreis takes over the coaching reins from Ellinger, it was announced Thursday.
"I think the most surprising thing is that a lot of people didn't expect a guy like Jason Kreis to come in and get the job," Mathis said. "I'm excited for Jason, I'm real close to Jason. I think he'll do well with it and I'm looking forward to seeing how he progresses from the great player I think he still is to taking it to a different level and use that in coaching."
Mathis returns to Salt Lake, where he had a disappointing season in 2005, scoring three goals and assisting on four others. He was dealt to Colorado and had just two goals and one assist in 25 games.
"Everything happens for a reason and of course I would have liked things to work out there," he said. "They have a tremendous owner in Dave Checketts, who I have the utmost respect for and one of my best friends, Jason [Kreis], was there as well so it was definitely disappointing to have to leave there but it's a business and those things happen."
And it was a business decision for Kreis, the all-time leading scorer in MLS, to go from player to coach in 48 hours.
"It's crazy how the game changes like that," Mathis said. "For a guy like him who is the best goal scorer in the league and can still do that, but he made a decision to make a career move on the other side of the pitch. It's great for him. I hope that he can continue to bring success into his career and to turnover what he has done on the field and try to bring that out in other players."
Based on both team's results early in the season - the Red Bulls are unbeaten in four games and have yet to concede a goal, while RSL is winless in four games - Saturday's game should be a chip shot for New York, right?
"You look at the results of both teams and you think it is, but it's definitely not going to be an easy game in Salt Lake," Mathis said. "They have great fan support, some of the best fans in the league as far as how many people they have and how vocal they are. It's tough to play in those conditions and also the field, its turf, but it plays faster than Giants Stadium. If we can go into Salt Lake and get at least one point and try to steal three points, it's a good result."
And the coaching change could send shockwaves through the locker room and possibly re-energize RSL.
"It could light a spark under them because they have someone new to impress and a whole new set of eyes on them, but at the same time it could unsettle them," Todd Dunivant said. "We have to expect they come out with a lot of fire and really be looking to prove something."
Off to the best start in club history, the Red Bulls are creating a bit of a buzz in the New York metropolitan area. They've been organized defensively, putting ample numbers behind the ball and service from the wings has been much improved.
The finishing still needs to be better, but the Red Bulls have nine out of a possible 11 points to start the season and Colombian international Juan Pablo Angel is still awaiting his working visa.
"I think the fans should be excited. We have a great thing going here," Dunivant said. "We haven't won any championship here yet and we're four games in, but there's no reason to be cautious at this point. We've done very well and we're an exciting team to watch and I hope the fans appreciate that. The New York-New Jersey area has been waiting for that for a long time."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
