The Daily Dirt, November 15: Like a Boss

In light of last night’s announcement by Atlanta United about their assistant coaches (more commentary here), it’s time to look to our expansion brothers in Minnesota to see how things are coming along for the Loons.

Two names seem to have separated themselves from the pack in terms of the head coaching hire, Giovanni Savarese and Adrian Heath. Just as noted Minnesota website FiftyFive.One was posting an update on Savarese, Empire of Soccer posted that Heath was the front runner for the job. Sigi Schmid has also been mentioned as a dark-horse candidate.

While Heath and Schmid have been there and done that in MLS, Savarese would be new to the league as a manager. He just won his third trophy in four years with the New York Cosmos of the NASL and would be very familiar to Minnesota United and their fans. Before Tata Martino came into the picture in Atlanta, I said that Savarese wil make a fine MLS manager soon. He is as ready as he can be at this point, and has done all that he can do in the NASL. While Heath and Schmid have went through the expansion process before, there is more upside with Savarese.

With the manager spot still open, the rest of the staff is up in the air. Marius Rovde is a possible hire for the goalkeeper coach role. He has been in Vancouver since 2011 and recently left the Whitecaps. Tom Soehn is a candidate for assistant coach, he has been in that role with New England since 2014 and has previously managed D.C. United and Vancouver. Former Minnesota Thunder legend Amos Magee is also in line for a role with the club according to FiftyFive.One, potentially in player personnel. Soehn could also be an option there.

With their MLS launch starting considerably later than Atlanta, Minnesota is playing catch up in a big way. Expect to start seeing announcements from the Loons very soon on staff, players from their NASL team that they will retain, and more.

Domestic

What to watch for tonight in USMNT vs. Costa Rica (Stars and Stripes FC)

Christian Pulisic can’t save U.S. Soccer from Klinsmann (SB Nation)

Interview with Sunil Gulati on the state of U.S. Soccer (FourFourTwo)

Updates on Minnesota staff searches (FiftyFive.One)

Benny Feilhaber closer to re-signing with Sporting Kansas City (ESPN)

MLS isn’t the retirement league that Lampard and Gerrard thought it would be (USA Today)

Where does the NPSL stand in their offseason? (SoccerNation)

International

The 3-4-2-1 is in vogue (Guardian)

Edgardo Bauza is not worried about Argentina’s World Cup qualification campaign (Goal)

Local

Mercer learns who their NCAA first round opponent will be (Dirty South Soccer)