Bradley Carnell could be coaching the Red Bulls on an interim basis. (Photo courtesy of the Red Bulls)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
In the wake of the firing of Chris Armas Friday morning, Red Bulls head of sport Kevin Thelwell must hire two coaches, one for the short term, the other for the long term.
As of Friday afternoon, the Red Bulls did not have an interim head coach to guide the team against the Philadelphia Union at Red Bull Arena Sunday night, although assistant coach Bradley Carnell appeared to be in the catbird seat for the temp job until a permanent coach will be found.
Thewell said he talked to Carnell on what was a tumultuous morning. Carnell ran the practice session at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Hanover, N.J.
“We’ve managed to have an initial conversation with Bradley to say, ‘Look, will you continue to assist the team, continue to assist the coach and take this morning session?’ ” Thelwell said during a ZOOM conference call with the media Friday afternoon, adding that adding he would talk to Carnell and the technical staff this afternoon.
“So, more details to follow in terms of what that interim coaching position looks like from what seems like,” Thelwell said.
A former South African international, Carnell was named an assistant coach during the Jesse Marsch regime March 28, 2017.
Carnell, 58, made 40 appearances for his native country and started three games in the 2002 World Cup. After retiring as a player – as a defender he made more than 300 appearances, most only in the Bundesliga, he served as an assistant coach with the Orlando Pirates in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.
Assistant coach CJ Brown was let go along with Armas.
The remainder of the staff was at practice, Thewell said, and were not let go. That included goalkeeper coach Preston Burpo, head of strength and conditioning Tony Jouaux.
“We’ve got complete confidence in the rest of the team and the coaching team and the support staff to be able to do a very good job before we make another decision in terms of head coach,” Thelwell said.
