USL outfit Las Vegas Lights FC has made a big splash to kick off their offseason, hiring a big name in American soccer circles to help improve on a rough first season in existence.
The Lights have signed former U.S. Men’s National Team forward Eric Wynalda as their new head coach and technical director, announcing the hire on Wednesday.
Wynalda earned 106 caps for the USMNT, playing in three World Cups during his career. Domestically, he played for German outfits FC Saarbrücken and VfL Bochum while also playing for the San Jose Clash, New England Revolution, and Chicago Fire in North America.
Following his playing career, Wynalda went into coaching as he began with amateur club, Cal FC. He led Cal FC to a fourth-round upset of the Portland Timbers in the U.S. Open Cup, before moving to the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL.
“Honored and humbled to become a part of the Las Vegas Lights FC family – it’s a club with great ambition. Personally, Las Vegas was home for me for many years – to have the chance to come back and build something in the city I love is truly a unique opportunity,” Wynalda said.
The Lights concluded their 2018 USL season with a 1-0 loss to the Sacramento Republic last weekend. In their debut USL season, Lights FC finished 15th in the Western Conference with 31 points through 34 matches.
“Lights FC has big aspirations. And today’s announcement further signifies our commitment to create a professional soccer club that aspires to both make Las Vegas proud while becoming the next great American soccer success story,” said Las Vegas Lights FC Owner and CEO Brett Lashbrook. “We are incredibly thankful for the community’s support in our inaugural season, but our expectations in year two must be raised higher. Eric joining Lights FC is a testament to the type of club we’ve built in year one.”
Ride the llama.
Tell you what…..Wynalda has a big task on his hands. I have not seen group of professional players as undisciplined as the Lights. I’ve watched about 4-5 games via ESPN+ and their matches were chalk full of needless fouls and cards, pretty much thuggery and several matches toed the line of boiling over into fisticuffs. It was pathetic. I’m sure there will be a cleaning of house with players but man the Lights were an undisciplined mess on the pitch. Good luck to Wynalda.
“YES…FREDDY ADU WILL FINALLY GET TO START REGULARLY”….lol, bless his heart and hope Wynalda does well
That was the only reason I tuned in to watch a few of their matches. Haven’t seen him make any appearances near the end of the season.
Seems they underestimated the level of this league and thought they could depend on experienced, foreign journeymen level players to dominate, but this strategy failed big time for them.