THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL Johnston is ready to be fired as Red Bulls coach; sources say it could happen on Friday
Red Bulls coach Mo Johnston is prepared for some bad news on Friday that his short tenure as coach is over. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
East Rutherford, N.J. -- When he became coach last November, Mo Johnston realized there was a chance he would be fired someday. He just didn't think it would come this soon.
Johnston, who has directed the MLS team for only six MLS regular-season games, could be out as New York Red Bulls coach as early as Friday, BigAppleSoccer.com has learned.
According to sources close to the team, Johnston probably will be fired by Austrian energy drink owner Red Bull Friday. That's when Marc de Grandpre of Red Bull North America, which has offices in Hoboken, N.J., returns from Salzburg, Austria after meeting with billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz. Mateschitz purchased the MetroStars from Anschutz Entertainement Group last month, along with half of the Harrison stadium and stadium naming rights for more than $100 million last month.
Johnston is prepared for bad news. He was resigned that his fate has been all but sealed. In fact, he gave a major clue that the end is near while answering a question about what was his proudest achievement was during his short tenure as coach. He replied it was "picking up" the team as Metros interim coach after Bob Bradley was fired last October.
"I look at it differently because I haven't won anything," Johnston said after practice at Giants Stadium on Wednesday. "OK, I haven't been given time to win anything. But I think deep down, if I'm given a little bit of time, when you have a plan, it should be a two or three-year deal. Right now, it's obviously coming to an end so quickly, which is surprising."
Johnston could be out of a job before the Red Bulls host D.C. United at 4 p.m. Saturday. If that occurs, Johnston would be bounced with an unbeaten 2-0-4 regular season record that he forged over parts of two seasons. The Red Bulls have played three ties in as many matches this season.
Possible successors include former Cosmos stars Carlos Alberto, captain of Brazil's 1970 World Cup championship team, or Wim Rijsbergen, a one-time Dutch international, according to sources close to the team.
"I'm disappointed because there are a lot of people I respect on this team," Johnston said. "There's a lot of people who stayed and wanted to come and play for me and its not going to happen. And (there are) other ones who are upset.
"My life will continue with or without Red Bull. Could they have given it more time? Look, they came in and changed everything in Austria (Salzburg) off the bat. They are probably looking at doing that right now. Listen, I wish them all the best. I don't hold any grievances against anybody. They have a job to do. They want to make sure they want to bring more people into the stadium. They obviously have a plan. ultimately, their plan will be good."
Johnston said he spoke with de Grandpre before the Red Bull representative left for Austria on Tuesday.
"I said, 'Look, tell me Friday. you obviously come off the plane at 12, tell me at one o'clock," he said. "Get here at Giants Stadium, Let me know what the plan is. But don't give me a one-month plan. Let me know what the situation is. If I am fired, then I will walk away.' "
Asked how he was coping, Johnston replied, "To be honest with you, I'm fine. Nothing will really upset me. First and foremost I've got my health. I'm a happy person. I'm a winner. I believe in what I'm doing. To be honest with you, if I'm fired after seven games, it just goes to show they needed a certain change, they wanted a change. And that's just the way it goes. There's nothing I can do."
Johnston admitted he doesn't have any immediate plans if the axe falls.
"Right now I don't have any," he said. "I take each day as it comes. I will re-evaluate what goes on. I look at how the last five, six months, the experience that I've gained. I would say I would take a lot of experience that I've gained. I would say I take a lot of experience away from the three years working under Bob. I will take away certain things that I've done here. I'll look at certain things closely and see how I could have done things better."
