April 17, 2006 RUNNING THE BULLS Franz might have ex-Cosmos teammates (Chinaglia, Messing, Carlos Alberto, Rijsbergen, Bogie, Neeskens) as Red Bulls execs, coaches
Former Cosmos star and Brazilian World Cup champion Carlos Alberto could become Red Bulls coach under Franz Beckenbauer's plans. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Former Cosmos great Franz Beckenbauer realizes that the magic of the Cosmos would never been able to be duplicated in MLS, especially in these days of the salary cap.
But if the one-time Germany World Cup champion captain and coach has his way, the New York Red Bulls would have a definite Cosmos feel to it, BigAppleSoccer.com has learned.
Beckenbauer has talked to several high-profile former teammates about running the Red Bulls this season, according to reliable sources, although no exact timetable has been established as to when they would come aboard.
In the wake of club president and GM Alexi Lalas leaving the Red Bulls and taking on similar duties with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday, here is one possible front office and coaching scenario, according to reliable sources:
Beckenbauer, who is a good friend of and a special advisor to Red Bull Austrian billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz, would oversee everything (he would take over after his duties as World Cup organizing committee president end in July). Giorgio Chinaglia would be chairman and Shep Messing, currently a player agent and the Red Bulls TV color announcer, would be president and general manager and call the shots on a daily basis.
According to sources close to the team, there are two possible head coaches to replace Mo Johnston: defender and Brazilian 1970 World Cup championship captain Carlos Alberto, who most recently directed the Azerbaijan National Team, is the front-runner. Former Dutch international Wim Rijsbergen, the assistant coach of Trinidad & Tobago's World Cup team, also is in the running. Vladislav Bogicevic and Johan Neeskens most likely would be assistant coaches, the same sources said.
Carlos Alberto was offered to coach the MetroStars -- the Red Bulls' forerunners -- in their inaugural 1996 season, but rejected it because of the low salary ($80,000), he once told BigAppleSoccer.com.
During the April 7 Red Bulls-Metros-Cosmos dinner at Delmonicos restaurant in Manhattan, many of those former teammates sat at a "power table" along with Beckenbauer, discussing the future of the MLS club.
That front office/coaching scenario could change depending on what Beckenbauer's title is. He is still negotiating his exact role with Mateschitz, sources said.
"Franz is not looking for a quick fix," one source said. "He wants to win championship after championship."
Beckenbauer could not be reached for comment.
Scratch the possibility of former Metros defender Lothar Matthaeus coming aboard because he and Beckenbauer do not get along, sources said.
Former Metros all-star midfielder Roberto Donadoni, who attended the team’s reunion on April 8, also is not in the picture, as he is expected to get several offers to coach in Italy's Serie A, sources said.
