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Monday Kickoff: Wynalda lands coaching gig, report links Nesta to Montreal, & more

EricWynalda (AP)

Eric Wynalda's quest to break into the professional American soccer coaching ranks has led him to Atlanta, where he has been hired to be the new interim head coach of the NASL's Silverbacks.

Atlanta announced the hiring on Monday morning, with Wynalda taking over for fired head coach Alex Pineda-Chacon. Wynalda joins the Silverback just a month after guiding amateur side Cal FC to an improbable run to the U.S. Open Cup round of 16.

The Silverbacks are currently in last place in the NASL, with a 1-8-5 record. That led to the dismissal of Pineda-Chacon as well as the team's director of soccer, Rodrigo Rios.

Here are some other stories to get your Monday going:

NESTA REPORTEDLY HEADING TO MONTREAL

Veteran Italian centerback Alessandro Nesta has been trying to latch on with an MLS team for some time now, and it appears he has finally found a taker in the Montreal Impact.

Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport reported on Monday morning that Nesta has agreed to a deal with the Impact, where he will join up with newly-acquired Italian forward Marco DiVaio.

The Impact have been struggling in recent weeks, and could use Nesta's presence at the heart of an inconsistent defense.

ZOLA TO COACH WATFORD

Watford are set to name Gianfranco Zola as the team's new head coach, according to new club owner Giampaolo Pozzo.

Zola has been out of the coaching ranks for two years, having last served as manager of West Ham.

QUICK KICKS

Manchester United have signed fullback Rafael to a new contract

Russian midfielder and Euro 2012 star Alan Dzagoev is being courted by Tottenham.

Sampdoria is closing in on the appointment of former Juventus boss Ciro Ferrara as their new manager.

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What do you think of these stories? Think Wynalda can be a good pro head coach? See Wynalda helping Montreal turn things around? 

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think you can shout whatever you like, including come-ons to Ms. Harkes and derogatory stuff about Mr. Rome, if you take a local amateur team and get it past first division Portland as well as minor league opposition in open tournament play.

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  2. All due respect but ACM has been pushing Nesta with younger players dating back to the Gooch signing. And I believe Nesta literally said something about no longer being able to hack Serie A speed of play:

    “Italian and European football are too fast for me now . . . out of respect for the club and my team-mates I have decided to try a different experience at a club in which I can do something good.”

    You can go ahead and read between those lines.

    Far as whether he can get away with being slow here, I dunno, Houston’s slow defense of Boz, Hainault, and Taylor has been exposed a lot lately…..including by, ummm, Montreal?

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  3. For real. One day people will realize that age doesn’t affect all players the same. I seem to remember nesta bossing serie a last year at the age of 35 and Pirlo being one of the best players at the euro at 33.

    But for now I’ll just deal with every signing of a 30+ player as a “washed-up euro”

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  4. Kind of honored to get a comment from Ives. Pretty sweet. I don’t care if the reports are accurate or not, I was just pulling for a “Bradley update” or a new post to speculate in on the comments section. Looks like we got just that!

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  5. This gives him 6 weeks to shout “you don’t know what you are talking about, I played in Germany” to everyone in Atlanta. Maybe while he’s there he can learn a little Southern gentleman qualities.

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  6. To be honest, I thought 3.5 million euros was a little on the low side given that there are (reportedly) as many as 8 teams in the running for him.

    At least it’s a little early in the summer to be accepting that offer, and not let some other offers roll in.

    But, I’m definitely biased and have no idea how much teams value Bradley monetarily, including Chievo.

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  7. Didn’t AS Roma make a statement about wanting to bring in more American talent during the last transfer window? Landon Donovan’s and Clint Dempsey’s names thrown around then. It sounds like Roma is just looking to create buzz among American fans.

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  8. I see it as like Cal FC where he thinks he can ride a short run of games to some resume blurbs for a good job in pros/ college if/when he wants to coach full time.

    And as far as Atlanta’s concerned, I’m sure anything’s better than last place with 1 W 5 T 8 L, even a short term coach.

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  9. Was already planning on going to the Silverbacks game in Raleigh tomorrow night to see Matt Horth play. Now even more interesting.

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  10. I’m all for Ives waiting until papers have been signed before reporting.

    Didn’t we all jump the gun on a bradley transfer a few yers back? Or was it jozy?

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  11. Surprised we haven’t seen any Ives articles on Bradley moving to Roma. Multiple reports broke this weekend that the deal is close. Roma themselves have said they could announce it as soon as today.

    (SBI-There is nothing to report on Bradley to Roma. Reports out there suggesting it’s done or close are premature. Yes, Roma is pushing that story hard, but that doesn’t make it any more concrete. When there is a legitimate story to report I will report it.)

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  12. Good to see more ex-USMNT stars in the front office of American soccer. But wow does Montreal love their old Italians. Hope he stays healthy.

    Speaking of Italy, any confirmation yet on Bradley to Roma?

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  13. Apparently the Wynalda deal is only for 6 weeks, so that he can return to FSC for pundit duties at the beginning of the European seasons.

    I have to say…what’s the point?

    Reply

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