NASL Podcast Episode #37 with Special Guest, Eric Wynalda
Welcome to episode #37 of the IMSoccer News North American Soccer League Podcast.
This week I’m soloing as I interview the newest coach in the NASL, Eric Wynalda.
On Sunday night, the rumors became a reality and Atlanta Silverbacks head coach Alex Pineada Chacon was let go after a dismal 1-8-5 start to the season. Chacon had replaced José Manuel Abundis last winter who ended the 2011 season with a 4-20-4 record.
Silverbacks Director of Soccer Rodrigo Rios was also released after a cumulative record of 5-28-9 under Rios’ guidance.
On Monday morning the Silverbacks announced the former US National Team player and FOX Soccer analyst Eric Wynalda had been hired to right the listing ship. Wynalda’s new role will include both interim coach and team advisor.
Wynalda talks to IMS about his new deal with the Silverbacks and explains what his role is and his appreciation to Atlanta for giving him a chance to coach and advise. He says his main mission is to find a full-time coach and reveals to IMS that he thinks he has already found the person for the job and the details just need to be worked out.
The California native also says he is looking for players in Atlanta who are hungry. “They have a saying in Mexico, your belly is full, meaning you have no desire,” said Wynalda. “I need to go find some kids that haven’t eaten for a week. That’s what the next month is all about. You know me, I’m going to be honest and sometimes I let the cat out of the bag a little early, but I am going to bring in some players I’m familiar with in Cal FC.”
Please join me with the always interesting and always entertaining Eric Wynalda.
You can find all past episodes of the North American Soccer League Podcast here and the RSS Feed here.
[buzzsprout episode='53100' player='true']
Comments are closed.
It is no good for the league as whole to have the Silverbacks at the bottom of the league. In order for the NASL to succeed, we need all teams to find success. Hopefully he will bring a level of maturity that has been missing with the Silverbacks. I think there was a point earlier this season the Silverbacks had more red cards than goals.
Very excited to have Eric helping the team. I hope the rest of our fans will give him more than a couple games to prove that he can turn things around.
It is a little late in the season for the Silverbacks to turn around with a new coach, no matter how good he is.
I would say the belly is indeed full. As in, with lot’s of desert and key lime pie.
If the NASL becomes to MLS what the AFL became to the NASL, then i could See Wynalda becoming the Al Davis of the NASL.
“It is no good for the league as whole to have the Silverbacks at the bottom of the league. In order for the NASL to succeed, we need all teams to find success.”
You know that’s not mathematically possible, right?
I think what they mean is the Silverbacks are going on their 2nd year in a row at the bottom of the table. The Silverbacks need to become more competitive or they will lose their fan base.
@BQ – Great listen. Wynalda, love him or hate him, is an interesting guy in American soccer. It will be interesting to see if he can make the right moves to make the Silverbacks more competitive over the second half of the season. He certainly seems motivated and put to prove himself.
good interview, BQ.
Good luck to the Silverbacks and Wynalda, sounds like with the Fox contract they have a month to find a new coach or things could get messy.