U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame member Eric Wynalda has been named the new interim coach of the Silverbacks in a shake-up of the franchise's operations.
Wynalda replaced coach Alex Pineda Chacon and director of soccer Rodrigo Rios, who were both fired over the weekend following a 3-0 loss at San Antonio. Wynalda, who will lead the search for a permanent coach, will join the team in time for Tuesday's game at Carolina.
Wynalda, 43, made 106 appearances for the national team from 1990-2000 and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2004.
Despite overhauling the roster in the offseason by adding numerous experienced players in hope of improving on last year's 4-20-4 record, the Silverbacks have struggled in their second season in the NASL. They are 1-8-5, winless at home (0-4-3) and have a minus-16 goal differential.
Wynalda is mostly known today as an outspoken television commentator, first from his time at ESPN and currently at Fox Soccer Channel. But he will bring several tangibles to the job.
He knows offense. He retired as the national team's leading goal-scorer (34) and played in three World Cups.
He can to relate to a team filled with international players. He was the first American to play in Germany's top league when he joined FC Saarbrucken in 1992. He has also played in Mexico as well as Major League Soccer.
Wynalda has also played for different teams up and down the soccer ladder, from scoring the first goal in MLS history when he was a member of San Jose to playing for the Charleston (S.C. ) Battery in the lower-level USL.
Wynalda doesn't have much experience as a manager, but what he has done is impressive. Earlier this year, he guided Cal FC, an amateur side he put together, to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this year, defeating the MLS' Portland Timbers in the third round. It is considered one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.
The Silverbacks will play at Minnesota on Saturday and will return home to host Puerto Rico on July 14 in Wynalda's debut at Silverbacks Park.
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