November 4, 2009 THE BIG MAN TALKS Beiersdorfer speaks about Bulls hiring a sporting director, coach and a 2nd DP
Dietmar Beiersdorfer talks about the importance of adding a second designated player to play alongside Juan Pablo Angel (above). Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Dietmar Beiersdorfer, the sporting director of the entire Red Bull soccer empire, realizes that getting the right man to run the soccer operations of the Red Bulls here will be the most important decision he will make for the club.
If he picks a European to be sporting director, Beiersdorfer knows needs someone who understands the complexities of MLS or someone who can learn very quickly. MLS is different from any other league in the world with a salary cap and a seemingly endless list of rules and regulations regarding player movement. There is no free agency in the league.
"This is the gap to close because if you hire one who has not at least the ability to get used to the system, at least the intelligence to accept what the rules, that we cause us problems," he said Wednesday.
"Therefore, we have to make a decision which will last at least for a good development of the structure of the club."
Beiersdorfer is visiting the team for several days from the organization’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria to discuss the Red Bulls' future plans. He answered four questions from the media via. His answers were distributed to some of the journalists who cover the team via audiophile.
Beiersdorfer wouldn't put a timetable as to when he wants to hire a sporting director to replace Jeff Agoos. Sources have said the Red Bulls local management would like to hire one by the end of this month.
"We have to decide as soon as possible because we have to step up the new season," he said, adding that interim coach Richie Williams, Agoos and director of scouting Cris da Silva were in charge at the moment. "We go on from there."
Williams, who guided the team to a 3-3-2 record the final eight games of the season after moving up from assistant coach in the wake of Juan Carlos Osorio resigning as coach in August, is one of the candidates for the permanent position. Williams has received good reviews from the players and managing director Erik Stover, who last week said he hoped Williams would be a finalist.
"He's made a real good impression," Beiersdorfer said.
"He's a guy who has so much passion for the club. He knows MLS."
Williams, according to a report in Wednesday's Washington Post, appeared to be a prime candidate for the vacated D.C. United coaching job after Tom Soehn resigned. Williams was a popular player in D.C. and was starter on three MLS Cup championship teams with United. Williams is considered a hot commodity as a coach in the league.
Beiersdorfer said the Red Bulls want to add another designated player to go with the team's first DP, captain and striker Juan Pablo Angel. The team has another slot after former U.S. international captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna retired midway through the 2008 season.
"It is important for sure that we bring our up the quality on the team and play a very good season," Beiserdorfer said. "This should be considered if we have a chance to bring in a player who is very well known and can give us a big impact on the player side and make the players better, but also on the communications side, media side.
"We will try to get a player signed who can not care for everything, but first of all be a very good football player."
