Owen Coyle applauds fans vs Sporting KC, just weeks before his abrupt exit from the Dynamo
BARNSTABLE, MA — The biggest topic of conversation Major League Soccer (well, in Houston at least) is the curious case of Owen Coyle. The Scottish born manager unexpectedly resigned as manager citing he was “homesick,” just they day after the Dynamo triumphed over Real Sociedad on penalty kicks in the Dynamo Charities Cup game on May 24th.
A source close to the club have confirmed to Prost that players nor backroom and managerial staff saw Coyle’s resignation coming — the feeling around the locker room was one of shock. Regardless of results on the field, Coyle was well liked in the Dynamo locker room and it is understood the overwhelming majority of players and staff will be sad to see him go. The vacancy Coyle filled at Blackburn Rovers was not thought to be a factor in his decision.
As we enter the international break in Major League Soccer the Houston Dynamo are still manager-less. With Wade Barrett at the helm Houston has amassed 2 points in 2 games away from home, including a 1-1 draw in frightful weather conditions in Frisco ,TX vs FC Dallas. Barrett is scheduled to manage his first home game on June 15th in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup versus San Antonio.
“First and foremost when we’re [Houston Dynamo] looking at candidates we look at who fits our core values.” said Jordan while on a conference call with media members, before adding “We’re [Houston Dynamo] a highly competitive organization and we pride ourselves on that so that’s what we’re looking for moving forward.” The Dynamo GM also noted that Houston would take their time while appointing their new coach.
The international break will be a perfect time for Houston to file through whatever applications they may have received, as well as any coaches they may be courting for the position. Matt Jordan said himself that the coaches will have North American soccer experience and with that, we at Prost have compiled a list of coaches we think may suit the position.
The Favorite — Jason Kreis
Jason Kreis’ spell at New York City FC was… up and down, but it was still surprising that NYCFC’s top brass were so eager to replace a coach that had taken a small market team in Real Salt Lake to an MLS Cup win, and a CONCACAF Champions League Final. The similar market size and the success Kreis was able to have in it make this hire a particularly attractive one — not to mention there is a connection to Houston Dynamo GM Matt Jordan from his playing days at the Dallas Burn. Jordan was brief about most candidates, but seemed to wax lyrical on Kreis in his conference call with media. “It’s normal that Kreis’ name comes up in these discussions. He’s been a successful coach, and a successful coach in this league,” said the Dynamo GM.
The In-House Candidate — Wilmer Cabrera
Wilmer Cabrera has had a fine start to life with the Houston Dynamo’s hybrid affiliate The Rio Grande Valley FC “Toros.” RGVFC is in its first season as a club, and Cabrera has guided them to 5 wins, 2 ties, and 4 losses through 11 games so far this United Soccer League season. They currently sit 4th in the table with 2 games in hand on LA Galaxy 2 and are just 3 points off of the top spot in the Western Conference. Cabrera has a history of coaching and developing youth players — he was the USMNT U17’s and U18’s coach, hence why the Dynamo saw him as the perfect fit to develop their youth at RGVFC. Cabrera has MLS experience, too, as an assistant coach of the Colorado Rapids, and as manager of the ill-fated Chivas USA. Matt Jordan did confirm in the conference call with media that Cabrera would be considered for the full time position, and given his track record he would fit the bill of what Houston Dynamo believe to be their “core values.”
The one with the first name that’s Frank — Frank Klopas
Here we go again, you probably are thinking. Seeing as Frank Yallop is currently under contract with Arizona United SC for three years, Klopas is the Frank that Prost has earmarked to take over the Dynamo job. The decidedly less celebrated of the two Franks, Klopas was most recently the Montreal Impact’s manager pre Didier Drogba. After coming on as an interim manager for the Chicago Fire in 2011, Klopas stepped down in 2013 after amassing a 44.74% win percentage. Not a bad feat in a league with almost absolute parity.
The outsider — Gary Smith
Manager A has won a MLS Cup championship, and has a 41.96% win percentage, losing just 30 of 112 games in charge of the only team he’s managed in Major League Soccer.
Manager B has won a MLS Cup championship, and has a 40.88% win percentage when you factor in his latest stint at a club that boasts a 28.57% win percentage.
Manager B, Jason Kreis, is lauded my most — including myself — as one of the better coaches Major League Soccer has ever seen. Manager A is Gary Smith, somebody whom probably deserves a bit more credit.
When Prost looked for “outside the box” candidates Gary’s name popped up on a list of people who had led teams to a MLS championship. Smith’s stint with the Colorado Rapids was a successful one, and though his latest managerial tilt was at the now defunct Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League (he only managed them in one game before they disappeared), he’s still proven that he’s a successful manager in North America — something Matt Jordan said that he would be considering for the position as manager of the Houston Dynamo. Tie that experience with knowing the idiosyncrasies involved with running a Major League Soccer franchise, and his MLS Cup success and Gary Smith could well be a viable candidate for Houston Dynamo manager — not “just another foreign manager.”
Others given consideration:
John Spencer, Jimmy Nielsen, Wade Barrett (current caretaker coach)
Houston Dynamo
MLS
