Heading into the MLS offseason, the Chicago Fire had coaching job has been a major talking point, and it appears that a frontrunner has emerged from the pack of candidates.
Goal USA is reporting that U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos has emerged as the leading candidate for the Chicago Fire head coaching position.
The report went on to state that the Fire have interviewed former New York Red Bulls coach Mike Petke and U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team coach Richie Williams for the position. In addition, Jason Kreis’ candidacy has not yet become clear following his departure from New York City FC.
Ramos, who made 81 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team throughout a 13-year international career, played seven years in MLS as a member of the MetroStars. The 49-year-old has taken charge of the U.S. U-20s since 2011, while also serving as an assistant with the senior team since 2014.
Under Frank Yallop and interim head coach Brian Bliss, the Fire finished with just 30 points this season, good for last place in all of MLS.
What do you think of this development? Think Ramos would be a good fit for the Fire? Who would you hire to be the Fire’s coach?
Share your thoughts below.
Ramos was a great player for the national team. He has been less than stellar as a coach. There are a long line of individuals for whom this has been the case. Kreis, Petke and Marsch were very good MLS players, who turned out to be great coaches. I am not so sure that some other very good players who tried their hand at coaching (or administration,) like Mathis, Williams, Reyna and Lalas, were very successful after their playing days.
If I were an MLS general manager, my #1 priority would be Jason Kreis for any coaching vacancy.
Fair enough,…but Kreisler will have his pick of the open jobs and there I’m not sure I would want to risk waiting around for Kreisler to make up his mind. I’m sure he can wait a bit and be patient to see what shakes out. Who knows,…what if Seattle has a poor showing and Schmid moves on. If you were Kreisler,….would you want to end up in Seattle or Chicago?
All that said,…I’m not sure about all the negativity around Ramos getting a chance. He has paid his dues.
Lastly,…I still can’t believe NYCFC fired Kreis. I can’t wait until they shell out huge money for Capello and he arrives in NYC only to find out how unusual and unusually fair MLS is. He is not going to like it. He will be a long way from the comforts of AC Milan, Baresi, Gullit, Boban, Maldini and Rijkard. The clock will immediately start counting until he throws up his hands after a mailed-in effort and says “no wonder I’m failing,…this league is crazy!”
Mind Blown: So all three candidates were teammates on the 2001 MetroStars team. The Fire recently fired assistant coach Clint Mathis, also on the 2001 team. Let’s add the Fire factor for 2001. The Fire was coached by Bob Bradley, who became a MetroStars coach. His assistant in 2001? Dennis Hamlett. Their players? Jesse Marsch and Chris Armas. Marsch, Hamlett and Armas are now the coaching staff for the Red Bulls. Once last thing. Brian Bliss, the hiring manager and interim coach of the Fire played for the MetroStars in 1997.
Ugh. No thanks.
As always American soccer revolves around New Jersey 😉
So the FO is really trying to drive a stake into the heart of this once proud franchise?
I’d really like to see Kreis get an opportunity to interview before they make a decision. Williams and Ramos are underwhelming names.
Either 1) they can’t afford him or 2) Kries is not desperate
Kreis is waiting for Seattle to either:
1) Lose in the playoffs, Sigi gets fired
2) Win MLS Cup, Sigi retires
And then he’s Seattle bound.
Wow, Tab Ramos and Richie Williams, two youth national team failures… and apparently between Ramos, Williams, and Petke, they’re not looking beyond New Jersey, what a thorough coaching search!
I don’t think the U-20s “failed” this year. Went out in the QF on penalties to the eventual winners.
Exactly, the U-20s did fine and Tab Ramos’s teams always try to play good technical soccer. But the American superiority complex says I don’t care unless we win the whole damn thing.
Please, also, show some respect to one of our most talented players ever on the ball – exactly the thing we need more of. To me he is just as much if not more of a legend than… I won’t say his name.