By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Red Bulls head of sport Kevin Thelwell got his man, at least on a temporary basis.
Assistant coach Bradley Carnell Saturday was named interim head coach by the Red Bulls in the wake of Friday’s firing of head coach Chris Armas.
Carnell will run the show when the Red Bulls host the Philadelphia Union at Red Bull Arena Sunday at 7 p.m.
Thelwell said Friday that Carnell was his choice to be interim coach while the club looked for someone to take over on a permament basis. He added he had to talk to the 58-year-old Carnell to work things out.
Carnell ran the practice session at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Hanover, N.J. Friday.
There were no comments from Thelwell on Carnell in the Red Bulls’ press release announcing his appointment Saturday.
A former South African international, Carnell was named an assistant coach during the Jesse Marsch regime March 28, 2017.
Bradley Carnell will be calling the shots at RBA Sunday night. (Photo courtesy of the Red Bulls)
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 Red Bulls technical staff includes 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 Friday.
