Red Bulls readying to hire new coach

Sporting director Beiersdorfer visiting club to help bring quality to New York

By Dylan Butler / MLSnet.com Staff

"We have to decide (on a coach) as soon as possible," Dietmar Beiersdorfer (right) said. (AP)

Dietmar Beiersdorfer, who was recently named sporting director for Red Bull soccer operations, has been in the New York area and visiting the Major League Soccer club. The former German defender will be influential in choosing the New York Red Bulls sporting director and head coach.

It's a decision Beiersdorfer said will be made sooner than later.

"We have to decide as soon as possible because we have to plan the new season," he said. "We talked also about the roster, I talked with Jeff [Agoos] and Richie [Williams] because they are in charge at the moment and with Chris da Silva, the head of scouting, and we go on from there. If anybody, and I think that it will be soon, goes with us this path and this way we are glad and I think it will help."

Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said last week candidates from abroad and in the United States are being considered. There are unique challenges to European-based candidates, including understanding the complexity of Major League Soccer rules and regulations, but Beiersdorfer, who served as sporting director at German club Hamburg SV from 2003-2009, believes the right European-based candidate can succeed in MLS.

"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 are, that will cause problems," he said. "Therefore we have to take decisions which will last at least for a good development of the structure of the club."

Williams, who was 3-3-2 down the stretch as interim coach after Juan Carlos Osorio resigned as head coach, drew praise from Stover, who said he considered Williams a finalist. Beiersdorfer, too, has been impressed with Williams, who reportedly could be in contention for the D.C. United coaching gig.

"He's a guy who has so much passion for this club and he knows the MLS and yeah, I think he made a real good impression," he said.

Whoever is brought in to attempt to build up a Red Bulls team that finished with the worst record in MLS will be able to bring in a second designated player. Williams said if he was the head coach he'd look for an attacking player. Barcelona superstar Thierry Henry has been linked with possibly coming to New York after next summer's World Cup.

The 2010 season is considered crucial for the Red Bulls because the team will play in Red Bull Arena, the 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in Harrison, N.J. An improved product on the field is important.

"I think [it is] important for sure that we bring our quality up on the team, that we play a real good season in the MLS," Beiersdorfer said. "If we have a chance to bring in a player who is well known and can give us a big impact on the player side, inside, to make the other players better, but also on the communications side, media side, we will try and get a player signed who ... first of all be a very good football player and be for sure also a Red Bull testimonial."

Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.