Photo by ISIphotos.com
Since joining the Kansas City Wizards as technical director back in 2006, Peter Vermes as developed a reputation as one of the best front office men in Major League Soccer. What he also managed to do was establish himself as a sought-after head coaching candidate, with at least two teams trying to hire him in the past year.
Vermes turned down those coaching opportunities to stay with the Wizards, which he was hoping to turn into a winner. Now, Vermes is getting his chance to coach as well as guide Kansas City out of a funk that has the Wizards in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Vermes is Kansas City's interim head coach, having taken over for fired predecessor Curt Onalfo, and will make his professional head coaching debut today when the Wizards face the Chicago Fire (3pm, Telefutura).
"I'm not expecting to come in and wave some magic wand but we need our players to be accountable for their performances," Vermes said. "We have the players to deliver better results and it's up to them to show that."
The former U.S. national team striker and MLS All-Star defender is not a complete stranger to being a coach. He spent time as a U.S. Under-20 national team assistant before joining the Wizards and in recent years he has found time to work with Kansas City's youth teams, running practice sessions on occasion to keep his coaching chops sharp.
Whether that is enough to help resurrect the Wizards' playoff hopes remains to be seen, but Vermes isn't looking that far ahead. He is focused on helping Kansas City post its first league victory in more than two months.
"We can't talk about the playoffs right now, we need to work as a team to play like we did earlier in the year," Vermes said. "The rest of this year will be a good opportunity to see which players we can count on going forward beyond this season.
"Something else I'm hoping you will see is a team that is much tougher to play against."
If the Wizards take on the personality Vermes had as a player, that should be an easy change to make. Vermes established a reputation as a tough and no-nonsense player, from his time as a tough striker to his days as one of the best defenders in MLS.
Will the job become a permanent one for Vermes? He insists that it is just an interim role and that the team will begin a lengthy search for a new head coach once the season ends. While that might be the plan now, it would be tough to imagine Vermes giving up the whistle if he helps the Wizards climb into the playoff race.
"I'm not thinking about that, or about next year right now,' Vermes said. "Right now the focus is on making the team better and giving the fans here a team they can be proud of."
The first step starts today vs. the Fire.
What do you think about Vermes as Kansas City's head coach? See him turning things around? Think he'll wind up keeping the job? Can you see the Wizards making the playoffs?
Share your thoughts below.
Wizards are not fanless, they sell out most games despite that the shape of the park provides no good seats anywhere, which is why I don’t go. Lower attendance yesterday was probably because it rained most of the day.
And they are building a stadium for 2011 so there is no point to ask for moving the team.
Well, maybe next year (but probably not).
If Vermes is so great then how come the team he’s put together is so bad, even when he coaches them himself?
Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex could have coached these teams and it wouldnt have mattered.
Nothing could keep the McbrideCuahCondeSoumareSegares-less almighty Fire from thrashing the lowly fanless wizards.
I will say this full of shame:
That’s what they get for messing with the Zoltan.
(*bows head, half in shame, half ducking from thrown objects*)
Anyone just see that foul by Zoltan? Vicious.
emanon, I’m not sure how much the Fire FO had to do with it, I think it is more the work of Section 8 – the stupporter’s groups.
Also, once we get to the “20 team” mark, instead of thinking about adding more teams, let’s move the weak sauce teams to more deserving places: like Kansas City to St. Louis, FC Dallas to somewhere in the South East, maybe one of the Carolinas, and whoever else can’t get the sh*t together by the team we’ve reached the 20 team table.
I’m 25 years old. I hope by the time I’m 35 of age EVERY team in MLS is playing in a SSS and also that every team averages at least 20,000 a game. That’s my dream for MLS. Also, a Twenty team league in one, single table too. Can we accomplish any of those in 10 years? God, I hope so.
emanon, that would most likely explain it. And maybe KC fans are tired of watching soccer in a baseball stadium, so maybe there’s not much “noise competition” for the fire fans.
And I think they’re playing in Kansas City but all I hear are “Fire!” chants.
Posted by: MemRook
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I think the Fire FO organized buses for fans to head to KC for the match – which could explain their strong presence
What’s he going to do to win? Stare the other teams to death. Actually… that might work.
And I think they’re playing in Kansas City but all I hear are “Fire!” chants.
Well, now he’s gonna have a tougher time of it, because Chris Rolfe just scored for the Fire on a pretty good shot. He was released inside the 18 and finished far post to the left.
Vamos Wizards! PV will be great for the team’s attitude.
Caption, if what Nats fan says is true:
“Praise be to Allah”
Peter Vermes looks like he wants to eat my children.