Life for Frank Yallop is already looking markedly better, says the San Jose Mercury News’ Ann Killion, reporting from Yallop’s press unveiling as head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes. She says that “happiness and relief” were evident on Yallop’s face during a low-key Q&A with four total reporters. That’s right, “No swarms of British tabloids. Nobody from People magazine or “Entertainment Tonight” — a far cry from what Yallop had been accustomed as part of the David Beckham Galaxy circus.
Yallop’s switch from L.A. to San Jose is a great move for all parties: the Quakes regain a coach who led them to two MLS titles, Yallop gets to start over in a familiar city under saner circumstances, and L.A. gets to search for a “sexier” coach — which the club was going to do anyway — without looking like the bad guy.
Even so, Killion piles on the criticism for the way Yallop was treated. She calls Galaxy GM Alex Lalas (his Galaxy boss) “preposterous.” and adds that Yallop was constricted “by geniuses whose soccer expertise amounted to offering Beckham a $250 million contract.” Outspoken L.A. striker Landon Donovan backs her up, saying the Galaxy management “handcuffed” its former coach. “As a person, I’m glad [Frank] got away from this,” Donovan says. Adds Killion, “with that transparent criticism of Lalas, maybe Donovan is making a bid to come back to the Bay Area, too?” Hmmm.