MONTREAL – There was only ever one man for Matt Jordan’s old job of Montreal Impact technical director.
So much so that it was practically a done deal after the Impact’s discussions with their first candidate. Montreal were so impressed that while they thought about others, they ultimately only met with one man: former player and team manager Adam Braz.
“For this to go as quickly as it did, we didn’t make a great deal of approaches,” Impact executive vice president of soccer operations Richard Legendre told reporters Monday at team sponsor BMO’s headquarters. “Very quickly, we saw it was going in the right direction with Adam, that it matched exactly what we were looking for at this point in our organization. We’re building a new three-year cycle, so Adam’s leadership and vision [will be useful].”
After it became clear that Jordan would leave for the Houston Dynamo, director of international business development Nick De Santis contacted Braz, who joined the family business in Florida in 2013 after 10 seasons in Montreal, first as a player and then as part of their technical staff. That previous relationship translated into a positive meeting.
And despite the fact that Braz and head coach Frank Klopas were strangers, a “synergy” developed between the two when they met, Legendre said. Klopas will report to Braz, who will report to Legendre. While Klopas will have the final say on players, it will be up to Braz to negotiate.
“I’ll never put a player in place that the coach doesn’t want,” Braz said. “I’m here to put the coach and his staff in the best possible conditions for success and to win. I’ll help find players, identify characteristics to find the best players for each position.”
- Get the latest Montreal news at ImpactMontreal.com
Braz’s negotiating skills, a result of business studies at St. John’s and Fairfield universities, also charmed the Impact.
The first line of business for Braz will be traveling with Legendre to New York City on Tuesday for a crash course on MLS rules and quirks. But he is confident that, with his knowledge of the club, it will be a smooth transition to a front-office role.
“I think I have a clear idea of where I want to go, and it aligns with the vision of the club,” Braz said. “I also think I have a clear understanding of the culture and the philosophy of the club because of all the years that I’ve been here. I understand that winning is No. 1, and our fans are extremely important.”
