By RYAN TOLMICH
The departure of New York Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh has finally been made official.
The Red Bulls announced Monday that Roxburgh will not return for the 2015 season after two years with the club after SBI originally reported Roxburgh’s impending departure back in October.
“After two wonderful seasons with this great club and with my contract at an end, it is time for me to move on to a new challenge,” Roxburgh said. “When I came to New York, I was given the remit of raising professional standards on the sporting side and bringing success on the field. With the support of everyone at the club, I feel that these objectives have been achieved.
“I want to thank Mr. Mateschitz, the owner, for the opportunity to work with so many talented people, players and staff. I wish all of them every success in the future. Finally, I must pay tribute to our magnificent supporters. They have been our ‘twelfth man’ and a truly inspirational force. With their backing, and a professional structure in place, New York Red Bulls will surely go from strength to strength.”
Under Roxburgh’s leadership, the Red Bulls won the club’s first major trophy in a Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign.
In addition, former Head of Commercial Operations Marc de Grandpre has assumed the role of General Manager going forward.
“On behalf of the New York Red Bulls, we want to thank Andy for his contributions during a great two years of service to the club,” de Grandpre said. “Andy is a true professional and his influence on the club will be felt for years to come. We wish him all the best going forward.”
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What do you make of Roxburgh’s departure? How do you expect the Red Bulls to handle the offseason going forward?
Share your thoughts below.
Roxburgh gone, Henry gone, Cahill probably gone, NYRB stating frankly that they are switching to a model of developing players rather than signing big stars, Garth Lagerwey out of contract in Salt Lake. Given these facts, NYRB is completely insane if they don’t back up a giant dumptruck of cash into Garth’s driveway. He’s the perfect fit if you want to develop players. With NYRB’s cash, Lagerwey’s expertise and Jersey’s talent pool, they would have a chance at actually doing something special for a change. If NYRB management doesn’t see that, they’ve lost the plot completely.
Tom Soehn of New England is the reported favorite.
I have never understood what people see in Soehn. He is as pedestrian a developer of talent as he was as a defender.
Not sure either, but since they’re looking to spend 800k -2million for DPs, doesn’t make sense to pay a Euro big money to be the Sporting Director.
Red Bull ownership has never stated any such thing about switching models.
Pretty much everyone in the organization who has talked about it recently has admitted as much. Even Petke said as much last week.
When have they ever said anything about the club?
I would love for Henry to become their sporting director and then coach, but he would commit suicide as an MLS coach due to the rules and low skill player, but as a sporting director ,he would do a good.
Apparently you don’t follow MLS but Henry played with these so-called “low sill players” for 4 seasons and he seemed to have no problems with it. With that being said, just because he was a great player, wouldn’t mean he would be a great coach anyway… no matter what league he is in.
Look, Henry was a good member of the club, and never bad mouthed MLS, but if you watched more than a few minutes you’d see there were dozens of times a game Henry was fed up with the low level of skill, and wasn’t shy about showing it physically
*fart sound*
So when is the Tom Soehn announcement?
Right after Heaps has his announcement.
Oh how quickly things change.
Just watch!!!!!!!!