Thomas Rongen, a fixture on the Florida soccer scene since the early 1980s, has been named the head coach of the MLS’s Tampa Bay Mutiny.
Rongen, who coaches the APSL’s Ft. Lauderdale Strikers from 1989 until the start of the 1994 season, is the second MLS head coach to be hired. Veteran English coach Ron Newman will coach the Kansas City Wiz.
“Thomas Rongen possesses a unique combination of attributes that will make him a success as our head coach,” said Mutiny president and general manager Farrukh Quraishi in making the announcement Nov. 15. “He is a fierce competitor whose teams aren’t afraid to take risks in playing an attacking style of soccer. He has great personal integrity and is widely respected by fellow coaches and players.”
Rongen, 39, came to the United States in 1979 to play for fellow Dutchman Rinus Michels at the Los Angeles Aztecs. He played for the Strikers in Ft. Lauderdale and Minnesota, as well as the NASL’s Washington Diplomats and MISL’s Chicago Sting, before moving to Ft. Lauderdale in 1988.
In addition to coaching the Strikers, he coached NAIA school Nova Southeastern.
“I have many fond memories of visiting Tampa Bay as a player and coach,” Rongen said. “The soccer fans in the Bay Area are incredible. Of all the cities I’ve been to in this sport, some of the most knowledgeable and boisterous crowds I’ve ever encountered in my professional career came from Florida’s West Coast.”
Several other teams are about to wrap up negotiations with candidates for their heading coaching jobs.
The Los Angeles Galaxy has interviewed former Mexican national team coach Miguel Mejia Baron, as well as UCLA coach Sigi Schmid and Atlanta coach Lothar Osiander. Ossie Ardiles, the former Argentine international recently fired by Mexican club Guadalajara, has been added to the list of possible MLS coaches. Ardiles had been previously considered by several clubs, including D.C. United.
Two Portuguese coaches, Tony Simoes and Toni, are also possibilities. Simoes, the top candidate for the MLS team in San Jose, is assistant coach to Portugal’s national team. Toni was recently fired by Spanish club Sevilla. Toni and Ardiles are two of the candidates the New England Revolution is considering in addition to Ireland national team coach Jackie Charlton.