S.J. announce new GM in homecoming
Organization is excited to bring back an MLS club to San Jose
A few San Jose fans would no doubt agree, yet with the announcement on Wednesday that the elder Doyle had been hired as the Quakes' new general manager of soccer operations, it's a story that looks set to have a happy ending.
The announcement of Doyle's hiring went beyond just a press conference. Given the fact that the organization is still in its infancy, the vibe was one part kickoff meeting and one part homecoming celebration.
Former San Jose midfielder Ian Russell was there showing off the club's new uniforms, and the presence of Doyle brought back memories of the team's previous incarnation. Yet according to San Jose club president Michael Crowley, sentiment played no part in his hiring of the one-time Quakes' assistant coach.
"What really grabbed me was [Doyle's] passion for the game," said Crowley. "We sat in the office, and his passion, his desire to do well, his belief that professional soccer could work in the Bay Area ... were overwhelming."
Of course, the moment the formalities concluded, Doyle's work began, with questions about the team's next head coach foremost on the minds of those present. Doyle added that he expects to have his man "in the next 30 days," the better to hash out the team's plan of attack for the expansion draft on Nov. 20.
Such a timetable would appear to rule out childhood friend and current Houston Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear, although the plan does give Doyle some wiggle room should Frank Yallop be cast aside by Los Angeles. That won't stop Doyle from casting a wide net.
"I think there are some quality [coaches] in college," said Doyle. "And I think some MLS assistants, who have been in the league a long time, who know every player, who know the ins and outs of the league -- they're high on the list also."
As for how Doyle will proceed with player acquisitions, the Fremont, Calif. native indicated that he'll be looking to teams like New England and the Earthquakes under both Yallop and Kinnear as the models for success. Doyle added that if the right foreign player came along who could help the team, then that is an avenue he would explore. But he also noted that finding the right U.S. players is where he would be focusing his energies.
"If you look last year's MLS Cup Final, there was only one foreign player out in the field, and I don't count [Dwayne] De Rosario because he's Canadian," said Doyle. "So there are great talents in America. The American player is a player that you have to have on your team to be successful."
Finding enough of those players to make the team competitive is a task that should prove monumentally difficult. The past three expansion teams have all struggled mightily in their inaugural seasons, but it's a challenge that Doyle understands and accepts.
"It will take time," said Doyle. "But it's great to have the team back."
Jeff Carlisle is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
