The Montreal Impact announced Wednesday that former US national assistant team coach Mike Sorber has been named assistant coach of the first team.
Sorber began his service as an assistant coach for the US team in 2007 under former head coach Bob Bradley. He also worked with Impact head coach Jesse Marsch while with the national team.
The 40-year-old St. Louis-area native was a member of USMNT coaching staff during one of the team’s most successful eras, including the historic victory over world No. 1 Spain in the FIFA Confederations Cup, in the summer of 2009. He also helped the US team advance to the round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer.
He is also one of the most decorated players in US Soccer history. Sorber played a total of 67 matches with the US national team from 1992 to 1998, ranking him in the top 20 all-time on the US side. He played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, starting all four games for the US.
“Mike's experience both coaching and playing at the international level will be invaluable for our organization as we build towards 2012,” Marsch said. “He also has great knowledge of MLS players and teams, which will help us prepare for our inaugural season.”
From 1996 to 2000, Sorber played more than 125 games in Major League Soccer with Kansas City, the New York MetroStars and the Chicago Fire (he and Marsch played under Bradley in 2000). In five seasons in MLS, he tallied nine goals and 17 assists, as well as one goal and five assists in the playoffs.
He started his professional career in the Mexican Primera División in 1994, playing more than 50 games with Pumas UNAM. During his time in Mexico he became the first American player ever to be named to the Mexican First Division All-League Team.
The club also announced Monday that former MLS goalkeeper Preston Burpo will serve as the team's goalkeeper coach.
