CARSON, Calif. - Former Chivas de Guadalajara boss Hans Westerhof will take over as coach of Chivas USA once visa issues are sorted out, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
Westerhof will take over for Thomas Rongen, who was stripped of his coaching duties and was named the club's sporting director on Monday.
Club president and co-owner Antonio Cue said the new coach was in place and had agreed to contractual terms but was awaiting approval of Westerhof's work visa.
Chivas USA defender Ryan Suarez said Westerhof would give the club a much-needed jolt.
"Hans has a tremendous ... understanding of the game," Suarez said. "He knows a lot about the game. His tactics are very good."
On Monday, Westerhof, interim coach Javier "Zully" Ledesma and assistant Martin Vazquez ran the training session. Players said it was more intense than what the club was used to. For instance, players did not stretch and instead went right to work on drills.
"That's the level that Hans provides," Suarez said. "That's the intensity that's going to come to practice every day. Practices are going to be shorter but they're going to be a lot harder, a lot sharper, a lot faster. Maybe that's what this team needs."
Westerhof, 56, currently serves as director over Chivas de Guadalajara, Saprissa of Costa Rica and Chivas USA - all owned by Jorge Vergara. Formerly, Westerhof coached PSV Eindhoven, Ajax and Willem II in his native Holland.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
