New York City FC: Patrick Vieira project the unique motivation
New York City FC head coach Patrick Vieira is being heavily linked to the Arsenal job. However, his passion for a project offers a unique motivation to stay.
Great soccer clubs have scouted him. But New York City FC head coach Patrick Vieira resoundingly says he’s not headed anywhere but his team’s pitch and clubhouse anytime soon.
He’s played in France, Italy and for Arsenal where he became captain. They won three Premier League titles and three FA cups with him.
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He quickly installed the successful soccer methods he learned into New York City’s program. The players under Vieira have worked themselves into a team contending for the MLS cup in fewer than three years. Today, the team stands second in the MLS Eastern Conference, 5-1-2 with three wins and no defeats at home.
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Vieira has his players responding like clockwork. They favor a 4-3-3 formation, easily shifting between defensive and offensive schemes within that formation depending on the opposition.
But with Arsenal looking for Arsene Wenger’s successor, a role that Vieira has expressed interest in at some point in his career in the past, there have been growing suggestions that he could look to leave the Big Apple in favour of a remarkable return to the club that he his adorned as hero.
Writing for MLSSoccer.com, Dylan Butler said he’s followed Vieira’s MLS career closely and monitors the flurries of job rumors in Europe. They’ve included Southampton, St. Etienne and most recently Arsenal. The latter had Vieira tabbed the frontrunner by a stack of English tabloids.
And Vieira’s in the final year of his current contract with NYCFC. Butler, however, insists that Vieira emphasizes consistency in his career – using the word ‘deliberate’. NYCFC represents a project. Second place doesn’t complete that project. And project is the word Vieira uses for his work with the team:
"“It’s all about the project, the people you’re working with, the happiness of living in New York City. I’m fully part of it. Being part means trying to take the football club to the level I believe we can achieve.”"
New York City has a style of play that works for the players and fans. They’ve developed an identity under Vieira. When using that style and identity results in an MLS Cup victory, that will achieve the goal of the project.
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Only Patrick Vieira can say how many goals this project must achieve before he begins a new one, though. But that day hasn’t arrived yet. And the head coach’s word, for now, represents the final report on that.