Hamlett manages egos in Chicago

Soccer America's Ridge Mahoney writes of how Chicago Fire Head Coach Dennis Hamlett has had to balance the ego of key veteran players while leading the Fire to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Mexican national team standout Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been a key to the Fire's success since arriving in Major League Soccer in 2007, and has been a major draw at the gates as well. Entering the 2009 season with a knee problem that hampered him during the preseason, he has been open in the media about discussing whether he is fit to play now, questioning his head coach's decisions in the process.

"The coach said I'm not well enough yet, and I respect his decision," said Blanco. "But I'm fine. Those are the coach's decisions, and if I'm on the bench, well, then I'm on the bench. Everyone is trying to get to the final.

"From my point of view, I think we need midfielders, but those are the coach's decisions. And we have eight defenders which, honestly, is a lot to me."

How Hamlett manages this outburst from his irascible, irrepressible star is an early pop quiz in advanced pro coaching. Blanco didn't play last weekend in a 1-0 victory against New York, but played all 90 minutes in a midweek friendly against a college team. If the knee was a problem it doesn't appear to be one now.

Hamlett may simply have wanted to see how Blanco, who will be 36 this season, and the knee reacted to playing a full game as he ponders his personnel decisions. Or he may have been trying to make a point.

Any pro coach will tell you a crucial aspect of the job is managing players, keeping things rolling while retaining control, motivating the starters while not discouraging or angering the backups, riding out rough spots without roiling the waters too much. There are few elements of coaching more stressful than dealing with a occasionally brilliant, always compelling, sometimes infuriating personality like Blanco, who might be back in the groove in a week or two if he gets back on the field. But if he doesn't ....

The challenge that Hamlett has is being able to manage the egos of key players like Blanco, while also keeping his eye on the prize - advancing to the MLS Cup. The Fire currently shares first place with the New England Revolution heading into the 4th week of the season, and have done so with second-year players Patrick Nyarko and Marco Pappa in the lineup while using Blanco and Chris Rolfe off the bench. The improvement of Pappa and Nyarko adds them to the list of candidates, along with Blanco, Rolfe, Justin Mapp and rookie Baggio Husidic , to play attacking roles in support of Brian McBride.

Making those decisions and massaging a superstar ego play just as vital a role in success as tactics and systems of play, and is also the major difference between coaching at the professional level. Those who are able to do so find the most success - and winning matches. Getting wins certainly gives the head coach credibility in these situations, and it certainly seems like Hamlett is building credibility in the locker room with the Fire's early season success.