Several media outlets reported Thursday that Toronto FC is about to announce former England striker Paul Mariner as the team's head coach.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment officials did not return calls on Thursday.
Mariner, who was an assistant coach with the New England Revolution of the MLS from 2004 to 2009, resigned his job as head coach of Plymouth Argyle on Thursday. Mariner’s contract with the third tier club, which is having serious financial difficulties, ran through the 2011-12 season.
The British press has reported that Mariner, 57, was offered a three-year deal in North America.
Mariner would be the first major hiring after TFC enlisted Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S.-based company to advise on improving the team’s overall performance.
TFC has failed to make the playoffs in its four years of existence, employing five head coaches. In mid-September, general manager Mo Johnston and first-year head coach Preki Radosavljevic were fired, with Dasovic finishing the season.
In addition to coaching against TFC, Mariner has other ties to Toronto. His assistant at Plymouth last season was former TFC coach John Carver.
The two worked together from December, 2009 until August when Carver left to become first team coach for Sheffield United.
Mariner established a good reputation in his coaching stint in New England. During his stay there, the team made it to the MLS final three straight times but failed to win.
While he didn’t find much success as a coach and manager in Plymouth, he was a fan favourite.
The team has won only seven of 20 games this season.
“He was very popular with the fans and not just because of his playing career,” said Plymouth Evening Herald soccer reporter Chris Errington. “He’s well-liked even though things didn’t get any better under him.”
A statement on Argyle’s website confirmed the club had released Mariner to pursue other interests.
“Paul Mariner has asked the club if he can be released from his contract of employment as he has another opportunity that he wishes to pursue,” the statement read.
“Given the outstanding relationship that Paul has with this football club, we have therefore agreed to release him from his contract and wish him all the very best for the future.”
While Mariner’s English coaching record was spotty at best, his playing career was covered in glory.
He was a key offensive force for England in 1982, scoring in six consecutive matches. He scored 13 goals in 35 games for England in his international career.
Mariner started his playing career with Plymouth in 1973 and scored 56 goals in four seasons. He moved on to Ipswich Town for the 1976-77 season, scoring 97 goals in 260 league matches.
He was lured away to Arsenal in 1984, but failed to match his earlier success and was let go after the 1986 season. His Premier League career ended after two seasons with Portsmouth.
After retirement, Mariner worked as a British TV commentator and ran soccer-related businesses until moving to the U.S. in 2003, where he landed an assistant coach job at Harvard.
That led to his being hired by New England.
Whatever coaching magic he had there did not follow him on his return to England in October of 2009, where he worked under manager Paul Sturrock.
He replaced Sturrock two months later, but was in turn replaced last April. The team struggled in his time there and was relegated to a lower division.
Mariner’s departure comes with Plymouth facing the threat of folding unless the club can pay off a tax bill that tops $1.5 million Canadian.
No comments:
Post a Comment