Claudio Reyna resigns as Austin FC sporting director
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 27, 2023
Claudio Reyna resigned as sporting director at Austin FC and will serve as a technical advisor role at the third-year MLS club.
The move comes less than four weeks after it was revealed publicly how his former teammate and childhood friend, Gregg Berhalter, kicked his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Rosalind Santana, in 1991 when they were freshmen at the University of North Carolina.
Berhalter said an unnamed third party contacted the federation with information about the 1991 incident to "take me down," i.e. with the intention to "bring about the end of my relationship with the USSF."
In a statement to the media, Danielle Reyna said she "was absolutely outraged and devastated" that Berhalter spoke about the issues the team had with her son, Gio Reyna, during the World Cup (without naming him specifically) at a post-tournament leadership conference and went to U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart, who hired Berhalter, and told him what happened to Santana, her roommate and teammate at UNC.
Berhalter's future was put on hold while the federation conducted a review of the cycle that ended with the 2022 World Cup and an independent investigation was conducted into the 1991 incident and how the information of those events when they were college freshmen came to the federation. (Claudio Reyna has denied making any threats.)
Claudio Reyna came to Austin FC after serving a similar role in the start-up of NYCFC. In its second season, Austin FC went from 12th to 2nd in MLS's Western Conference.
Reyna's statement:
“I am grateful that [owner] Anthony [Precourt] and the organization have given me the opportunity to scale back my role and responsibilities while continuing to contribute to the success of a club that I love,” said Austin FC Technical Advisor Claudio Reyna. “I take great pride in what we have accomplished but am looking forward to a less all-consuming work pace that still permits me to assist ongoing club development.”
Austin FC's organizational moves:
• Head coach Josh Wolff will now additionally serve as the Chief Soccer Officer on an interim basis and lead Austin FC’s sporting department.
• Sean Rubio, the Director of Player Personnel since August 2020, has been promoted to Interim Sporting Director and will oversee the Austin FC Academy.
• Nolan Sheldon, previously an assistant under Wolff, will assume additional responsibilities within Austin FC’s sporting operations, overseeing the connectivity between the Academy, ATXFC II, and the first team.
• Sheldon and Austin FC II head coach Brett Uttley will report directly to Wolff, as will High Performance Director Dave Tenney and Vice President of Sporting Operations Andrew DiLallo.
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???
Technical Advisor to WHAT.!?!?!? WHOM.!?!?!?
Sounds pretty Iffy to me....
He still has access but doesn't work 9 to 5. If frees him to take another full time job.
I am watching the news for word about Renya, Ramos, Perez, and Vasquez. All have worked for USSF previously. Vasquez is not a hall-of-famer, but he impressed me as both a MNT assistant coach and a youth development coach afterward.
There are other former internationals too that are coaching and I am not following: Cherundolo, Dooley, etc.
For that matter there are Bob Bradley and Jill Ellis, both successful national team coaches. Arena is 71 and I suspect not interested. But in any case asking them to work for USSF under the current management plan would be like asking Cruyff to attend coaching school. These three were successful head coaches and USSF doesn't run things now the way they did in the past.
If No Mourinho, No Lowe, No Enrique, No Vermes, No Cherundolo,
Why NOT Ellis.???
Seeing as WNT will get half the Prize Money, they should get Half the Input and Blame, if we Lose in the Qtr.!!!
Que??? Ramos, Perez and Vasquez? Wow, I'd hate to say it, but these three Caballeros, have been looked over and past by previous US Soccer head honchos, and they probably would not jump at the offer nor do I hear/see them chmpoing at the bit to get the gig. Heck, as loong as these guys are mentiond, why not also mention LEO CUELLAR? Besides the three amigos, he also knows the US/Latino soccer scene! So, por que no? Why not?!?!
Ric, you hit on why I am watching the news about those persons. It would mean a revolution happened inside USSF.
Same cultural shock if Ellis were approached. I am not watching for that. Despite having a female president, USSF and soccer in the US is sexist. No chance at all of Ellis being approached for any of the openings. Yes we now have equality in player compensation, but it took a lawsuit and the male players insisting on equality to accomplish. I don't think USSF has changed it's attitude one bit.
Ellis is definately the best of the lot. Very dynamic tactically. Able to adapt to the players. More-so than any coach I've seen in our space. Not likely though. Huge chasm to cross. Work is being done - look at University of Chicago - boys won NCAA D3 Championship lead by Julianna Sitch. Still, long way to go. We'll see. Reyna very long shot. For me, he keeps working his magic in Austin, this move, about keeping head below the bow to limit further damage to his reputation. Remember this about USMNT job, coach K was making $2.5M per year - GB probably $1M. Tata, for me, wanted the $2.5M, took the Mexico job to spite USA without knowing what he was getting into, and got burned good. This makes it, USA MNT, a desireable job for a lot of folks, but not for the Morinho's etc. Just not enough in the piggy bank. Good day!
What a mess all because a little brats mommy got revenge. Look out for Grandma Reyna now!