In a move which should surprise no one, D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn removed his name from consideration for the team’s head coaching position in advance of his contract’s expiration yesterday, effectively ending six years of service with the club. Soehn, an assistant coach from 2004 to 2006, was promoted to head coach for the 2007 season and started brightly, leading United to the MLS Supporters Shield in his first season. But after two consecutive years in which United failed to make the MLS playoffs, it was obvious that the club would not be extending his three-year contract, which was due to expire at the end of 2009. Soehn finished his tenure at United with a 55-48-31 record in all competitions.
“Tommy has done an outstanding job at D.C. United, first as an assistant and then as our head coach,” United President and CEO Kevin Payne said. “Tommy is a fine young coach and I know we will face him in the future in MLS play. I wish him all of the luck in the world.”
Soehn had been on an increasingly hot seat throughout the year, as the team’s failure to sustain any sort of consistency was, at times, maddening. Eventually, he lost control of his star players — this became evident late in the season when incidents like Christian Gomez arguing with Soehn on the bench after being subbed before halftime and players like Jaime Moreno making veiled comments about the coaching to the media started to pile up. From that point, the only thing that could have saved him was a long run to the MLS Cup; obviously, that didn’t happen.
It’s probably a good bet that Soehn will link back with his former boss, Piotr Nowak, on the staff of the new Philadelphia Union franchise. As far as United’s options, Soehn’s resignation allows the team to get a jump start on potential replacement candidates. Several names have been thrown around, but the two most popular speculations seem to be current New York Red Bulls interim head coach (and former United midfielder) Richie Williams and Chivas USA manager Preki.
