Chivas USA officially named Hans Westerhof head coach Friday after the Dutchman's work visa was approved.
Westerhof, 56, will take over a Chivas USA club that ranks last in Major League Soccer with a 1-8-2 record. The 56-year-old will make his MLS coaching debut against the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday.
"This naming (of Westerhof) shows the importance and the seriousness which we ... are taking this project of Chivas USA," club president and co-owner Antonio Cue said. "We're talking about a person who knows soccer very well. He's a man with great history, with great experience and we know that he will make great contributions here with Chivas USA."
Before taking over as coach of Chivas de Guadalajara in 2003, Westerhof coached several Dutch clubs, including Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven, Willem II and FC Groningen. Westerhof led Chivas to the Clausura 2004 finals and took over as Director of Football for Guadalajara, which gives him de facto reign for Chivas de Guadalajara, Saprissa of Costa Rica and Chivas USA afterward. All three clubs are owned by Jorge Vergara.
Westerhof said he would coach Chivas USA at least through the remainder of the season, and though he'd retain his other position, all of his focus and efforts would be focused on the MLS club.
"My first responsibility at this time is Chivas USA," Westerhof said. "I realize that there is not enough time for both. It's not possible for me to work here as coach of Chivas USA and do the work of my other position."
Both Cue and Westerhof remain confident in the club's ability to reach the playoffs. Entering Saturday's matches, Chivas USA are on five points in the Western Conference table, six points back of fourth-place Real Salt Lake and the final playoff spot.
"That is very important for us as a team," Cue said. "We are working on a project that we hope to have success in the middle- and long-term but that does not mean we are ignoring the short term. We want to reach the playoffs this year. We want to see this team successful."
As far as reinforcements, Westerhof said by July 1 he hoped to present "one or two players who can make the team strong in the positions that we want."
On Monday, Chivas USA stripped Thomas Rongen of his coaching duties and promoted him to the club's sporting director. Under Rongen, Chivas USA had one win and a draw from 10 matches and were on a four-game losing streak.
Confidence was down and frustration had long set in even though players said they felt Rongen was not to blame. Still, the move was made and Westerhof has been running training sessions all week.
"We have to play more as a team," Westerhof said. "The last (couple of) games, most of the time we played good in the first half... but in the second half most of the time we would lose our initiative. That's what we have to change."
The coaching move has already yielded positive results. Wednesday, Chivas USA tied Kansas City, 1-1, a result that players and coaches both said would give the club something to build on.
But for anyone to expect Westerhof to immediately turn the club into a title-contender would be mistaken, said defender Ryan Suarez.
"Whether you think you can bring in a coach and all of the sudden you think you can win championships, I think that's a (misconception). I don't think that's true," he said Tuesday. "I do think he can tighten up the ship, get things in proper order and steer us in the right direction. From there, it's really up to the players. It's a total gut check. Everyone is fighting for their jobs because everyone has a clean slate."
In the end, Westerhof can only to do so much, Suarez said.
"It's a game of players. It's not a game of coaches," he said. "If the players want to show up and focus for 90 minutes and represent those red and white colors that we wear, I think we'll have a good chance of turning it around."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
