The move was inevitable: The MetroStars and Bora Milutinovic have mutually agreed to part ways. Assistant coach Fernando Clavijo has been named interim head coach and will also be considered for
the vacant coaching position. "After numerous and lengthy discussions, Bora and I have concluded that this decision is in everyone's best interest," said GM Charlie Stillitano. "We are sad to see
Bora leave, but wish him the very best in his future endeavors and thank him for his efforts this past season." "My only regret is that we were unable to meet the objectives that both the team and
I had in mind when we started this project," said Milutinovic, coach of four World Cup teams. "I wish the MetroStars organization, Stuart Subotnick, Charlie Stillitano, the players and great fans the
very best in their goal of making the team successful." Milutinovic was brought in at the end of the '98 season to lead the MetroStars in the playoffs, where they lost in two games to Columbus.
This year, the Metros got off to a club record 3-0 start but won only four of their remaining 29 games. Clavijo will begin training the team on Monday, Nov. 1, when players assemble for daily
offseason training sessions at Kean University-East Campus in Union, NJ. The team will train throughout the current year (Monday-Friday at 10:30 a.m.) with the exception of a break for Thanksgiving
and the end of the year holidays. Clavijo joined the MetroStars as an assistant coach this season. Prior to the MetroStars, he served as an assistant coach for the MLS Pro-40 select team in the
A-League and coached Florida (NPSL) and Seattle (CISL) indoors. Clavijo is a close friend of Miltunovic's. He played under Milutinovic with the '94 U.S. World Cup team. New England has been
interetsed in Clavijo as a possible head coach for next season.
