Can the league’s youngest coach perform a miracle in San Jose? What’s worse than being cut on the eve of the World Cup? In 1994, when Bora Milutinovic had to pare his squad down to 22, the rejected players reacted in various ways. One burned his training gear. Another would be unable to watch the games, even on TV. Then there was Brian Quinn. More than 90,000 fans attended the U.S. 1994 World Cup match against Romania at the Rose Bowl. Hundreds wore U.S. replica jerseys, either the faux-denim shirt with white stars, or the red-and-white striped version. One of these fans ù you had to look close, because he blended in with the throng of supporters ù was Quinn. With his son in hand, he walked toward the stadium. “I’m here to cheer them on,” he said at the time. Quinn debuted for the U.S. at age 31 in 1991, shortly after becoming a U.S. citizen. He had come to the U.S. at age 21 from Britain. “Playing for the U.S. was the best three years of my life,” Quinn said. “The World Cup was a dream, and that I didn’t attain it just meant that somebody else did.” Playing for the U.S. got Quinn thinking about a coaching career. “I thought about how much I loved the game and being around the game,” he said. “I like coming to work in soccer everyday.” Exactly three years after enjoying the World Cup as a fan ù he even flew to Detroit with his oldest son for the U.S. opener ù Quinn landed an MLS coaching job, after two years in indoor soccer. Hired by the San Jose Clash to replace Laurie Calloway, Quinn represents a new generation of U.S. coaches. He is the only MLS coach who played professionally with players on his squad. (In fact, he roomed with Dominic Kinnear, also a late cut, during the 17-month U.S. training camp in Mission Viejo.) Quinn, with his 48 appearances between 1991 and 1994, is the only MLS coach with recent U.S. national team experience. (Colorado’s Glenn Myernick was capped 14 times between 1975 and 1979. D.C. United’s Bruce Arena made one appearance in 1973.) At 37, he is the league’s youngest coach. He also has the league’s toughest job.
Steep climb ahead
The Clash had a record of 5-10 and sat in the West cellar when Quinn replaced Calloway, who stayed on with the club as vice president/special projects. Star player Eric Wynalda had just gone on injured reserve, and chief rival L.A. Galaxy was shaking off its slump with its own new young coach, 39-year-old Octavio Zambrano. The Clash was, and remains, the only MLS team with a losing record at home, despite a narrow field, which should hamper the unaccustomed visitor, and a small stadium that intensifies crowd noise. “Your home base is your castle,” he said. “You protect that. Everybody who comes here should go away thinking we don’t want to come back here. The only way you bring that upon is winning.” On his debut, the Clash played its best game of the year and beat Dallas 3-1 June 28. Quinn’s second game underscored the difficulty of coping with the team’s past mistakes. In Colorado, the Clash lost 3-1, with Paul Bravo getting two goals and an assist. The team’s leading goalscorer in 1996 and a fan favorite, Bravo had been traded for Kinnear, a defensive midfielder now out of the starting lineup. The Clash picked up another win, against New England at home, before dropping three straight. Its playoff chances ù finishing at least fourth ù seem minuscule: San Jose is in last place with 17 points from 22 games; Los Angeles is in fourth, but has 25 points from only 20 games; and third-place Colorado has 28 from 22. “Doing the math,” Quinn said, “doesn’t do us any good. We need to win a few games for the players benefit.” The players seem pleased with Quinn’s style. “One of the biggest differences is he plays with us,” said Jeff Baicher, whom Quinn has promoted to starter. “He’s still a sweet player and we respect that…. Also, he’s real up front. He’s told each player where he fits in and we know what he expects.” “I’m not happy about not playing,” said reserve defender Oscar Draguicevich, “but I’m happy about Quinn. He’s already improved our style of play, and in the long-term I think he can improve the team a lot. I think he’s a great coach. He’s definitely a player’s coach.” But Quinn, who has a contract through the 1998 season, didn’t wait long to display his authority. He shut the locker room doors on players tardy for his first meeting. “He’s more lenient than German coaches,” said Draguicevich, who spent three years there. “If a German coach tells you 5:30, you have to be there at 5:15. With Quinn, you have to be there at 5:30.” Quinn has only two new players, keeper David Kramer and Zico, a Brazilian veteran of the Mexican league. Pulling the Clash out of the cellar will require some amazing inspiration from the new coach, a task fit for one who can put a positive spin on missing a World Cup.
by Soccer America
Senior Editor Mike Woitalla
