Ali Curtis (right), Jesse Marsch (left) and 2016 draft choice Zach Carroll during better times. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

The other shoe finally dropped Thursday.

In what cannot be considered a surprise, Ali Curtis and the Red Bulls have parted ways.

Translated: head coach Jesse Marsch won the power struggle between him and the former Red Bulls sporting director.

According to a press release, Curtis and the club tried to work through differing views the past months, the Major League Soccer team said.

“I thank the New York Red Bulls for the opportunity,” Curtis said in a statement released by the team. “It was a privilege and honor to serve the fans, players and staff. I am very proud of all the work and accomplishments of our team, both on and off the field, from the youth academy, through the USL team and to the first team.

“I would also like to thank the families of all of the staff and players as their support helped to fuel our achievements. Lastly, the lifeblood of a club remains its fans, and I would be remiss if I did not thank them for their tremendous passion. The New York Metropolitan area will always be very special to me as my two children were born here, and loved cheering at Red Bull Arena. I will bring all of these good memories to my next opportunity in this great sport.”

In an interview with Jeff Carlisle of ESPN FC, Curtis said:

“It’s still kind of raw. I have some mixed feelings for sure. But I honestly am focused and excited about the next chapter. I’m trying to process it, but I want to move forward. My direction is north.”

Marsch and Curtis had differing views on which players to trade and what players to keep.

Case in point:

The Dax McCarty sale to the Chicago Fire.

Marsch reportedly wanted the deal, while Curtis wanted to trade away Felipe. Marsch won the internal war.

Curtis was scheduled to host a seminar about the Red Bulls’ global soccer strategy at the National Soccer Coaches Association convention and to head up the Red Bulls at the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Los Angeles in January and was abruptly called home. He had to cancel his appearances at the convention, which is a rare occurence, and head coach Jesse Marsch ran the draft.

A day prior, Goal.com reported that Jesse Marsch was to become coach of Red Bull Salzburg and that one of his New York assistants, Chris Armas, was to become head of the Red Bulls. It did not pan out.

Minutes prior to the Jan. 13 draft in LA, Marsch had to address the media, stating that he was still Red Bulls coach.

Curtis was named sporting director in December 2014. Under Curtis’s leadership, the Red Bulls won the 2015 Supporters’ Shield, achieved back-to-back first-place finishes in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the 2016/2017 quarterfinal stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

During Curtis’s tenure, Red Bulls II was created as it served as a development platform for youth academy players and young professionals. In 2016, NYRB II won both the 2016 United Soccer League Shield and USL Cup.

“We would like to thank Ali for his contributions to the club over the last two seasons,” the club said in a statement. “We wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.”

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.