[MLS] Marc de Grandpre, who, despite having no soccer experience, became Managing Director of the New York Red Bulls when the energy drink brought the franchise in 2006, has resigned. De Grandpre's tenure was marked by the release of Coach Bruce Arena, who was at the helm for less than two seasons, and Giovanni Savarese, the popular and successful youth development director.


Arena was replaced by Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio, who guided the Red Bulls to a win in it season opener. Arena reportedly earned more than $1 million a year and remains on the Red Bull payroll after signing a nondisclosure agreement.

Savarese was replaced by Armen Simoniants, who was fired two weeks later when "false or inaccurate information" was discovered on his resume. Among the discrepancies that the Red Bulls apparently didn't notice: Simoniants was not the head coach of the MetroStars reserve team in 2000-03. Moreover, the Herald News discovered that he had been fired by the MetroStars as the reserve team's assistant coach.

De Grandpre held a marketing position with the Red Bull before moving to the soccer club. He said in a statement that he was leaving for "new position in the business community" without providing details.

"I am sad to leave the many outstanding people that have been a part of the success and excitement of the Red Bulls," de Grandpre said in the statement released by the team. "This was a very hard decision for me as I have been dedicated to marking the Red Bulls a success. I have had to make many difficult decisions over the course of my career, but this was the most difficult."