Red Bulls Hope Chivas USA Reunion is the Spark
By Matt Hoffman
The LA Galaxy are the most dominant team in recent MLS history. The reigning champions may have three MLS Cups in the last four years, a sterling youth academy and the league’s top coach but to their former tenants, the Galaxy were only referred to as “The Others.”
Even Chivas USA’s former President (and former MLS VP) Nelson Rodriguez took to referring to the Galaxy as “the other Los Angeles-based MLS team.”
Jesse Marsch wasn’t afraid to mix it up with Becks
Chivas USA may no longer exist, but in Sacha Kljestan and Head Coach Jesse Marsch–two key players from the Chivas USA’s best years–the New York Red Bulls have two players intimately aware of what it’s like sharing the stage with a flashy, big-name rival with lofty goals.
Marsch has the unenviable job of replacing Mike Petke, not only the most successful coach in Red Bulls history but a legend as the player who as coach get the team its first ever silverware with the team’s Supporter’s Shield winning season just two seasons ago.
Departing star Tim Cahill says it all: They loved him, but they loved him for a reason: Because he loved the club more than anyone else ever will.”
“I know that for a fact”
While Marsch relishes the challenges–he stated publically stated he’s pumped by the animosity–Marsch knows he’s facing a steep uphill climb. He’s replacing a living legend on a team that was, for all intents and purposes, a goal away from playing in last year’s MLS Cup.
Anderlecht fans paid tribute to Kljestan.
It’s one thing to replace Petke with a superstar manager. It’s quite another with a coach who has only managed one season–that of which was spent with the expansion Montreal Impact.
As a player, Marsch was known for his grit. While it’s a tough sell for his as the successor to Petke among the New York faithful, Marsch is confident he can secure a spot in the supporter’s hearts just like he did among Chivas USA supporters.
Tough and unrelenting on the field, Marsch was affable and cerebral off of it. This combination made Marsch appealing explaining why he held a head coaching gig so quickly after retiring.
Make no mistake, Marsch will always occupy a very tender spot in the hearts of Chivas USA supporters. He very well might make his the Red Bulls supporters love him as well but it’s going to be a process. It certainly won’t help Marsch that the team he’s inheriting is bereft of much of the talent that was on the field last year.
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Besides Cahill’s departure to China, Thierry Henry has retired and centerback Jamison Olave has also left the building. For all intents and purposes it’s hard stop. Perhaps the person best positioned to redeem the love of the fans is not Marsch but Kljestan.
Kljestan was one of the most decorated players for Chivas USA before leaving to play in Belgium and earning 46 caps for the USMNT. While he didn’t make the trip to Brazil, Kljestan was a key player in the team’s run through the Hex.
Though he hails from Huntington Beach and made his mark in LA, Kljestan has New York roots, playing collegiality for Seton Hall
His time abroad was mixed. Until recently Kljestan was a regular starter for a team that did routinely qualified for Champions League. Playing time has been inconsistent lately though Kljestan did score a brace recently.
More importantly, Kljestan endeared himself to the fanbase. Prior to his last match he was greeted by cheers of “USA! USA!” and fans created a tifo for him.
That’s a quality the Red Bulls hope won’t get lost in translation. https://mlsmultiplex.com/2015/02/05/report-d-c-united-pick-usmnt-u-20-flores-loan/