After leading the U.S. Men’s National Team on an interim basis for the last 12 months, Dave Sarachan is headed to the USL for his next coaching gig.
The former Chicago Fire head coach and LA Galaxy assistant was announced as head coach of North Carolina FC on Monday morning.
“Dave has been a highly respected leader for both club and country at every stop during his career and knows what it takes to grow a club, develop world class young talent, and win,” North Carolina FC president and general manager Curt Johnson said. “This is a huge moment for everyone that loves North Carolina Football Club and for soccer in the state of North Carolina.”
While bridging the gap between Bruce Arena and Gregg Berhalter, Sarachan led the USMNT to a 3-5-3 record in 2018 while bringing along the next generation of talent.
Sarachan joins a North Carolina FC side that finished ninth in the USL Eastern Conference in 2018, two points shy of a playoff berth.
Wow. What’s up with all the hate? Sarachan is a decent human being who was put in an impossible position, taking over a smoking crater of a program from his mentor, coaching partner, a friend Bruce Arena, who in turn inherited a trainwreck of a program from He Who Shall Not Be Mentioned. The whole thing is a shambles, from Soccer House on down to the u14s.
Thanks to Dave for doing his best to make lemonade out of lemons. Raleigh Durham is a lovely place, and with a little luck, NCFC can be counted on to knock off at least one MLS squad every year in US Open Cup, and hopefully sell on a player or two each winter to help prop up our second division. I, for one, wish him well.
They should retire that dinosaur of Sarachan. and his ugly american style of football/soccer : ” chase the ball guys and tackle and more tackle “.
Well, if that doesn’t speak volume about the USMNT’s past 13 months. Sarachan gave it his all, no doubt, but the fact that the best gig our interim coach could find is in USL is quite telling…
Sarachan could have easily worked again in MLS. We can all agree he’s not international level manager but go read the NCFC
release. His hiring and his attraction to NCFC was directly related to the youth-to-pro initiative the club is adopting. They want him to lead that charge. Some may see it as a “demotion” but honestly more coaches of his caliber, who have done well with youth are sorely neeed in the USL ranks. This is a great hire for NCFC and at Dave’s age and experience it’s a great gig for him.
you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t swallow the spin in the press release whole. Of course they’re going to put this hire in the best possible light for all involved. Listen, I’m happy for the guy, and if he’s happy at NCFC, then more power to him. But I think you’re overly optimistic to say that he “could have easily worked again in MLS”.
Telling of US Soccer much more than Sarachan. He’s by all accounts a good dude but no mystery as a coach. He’s been around a long time and had essentially found his level at club soccer as an MLS assistant, USL manager. Good for him and NCFC.