I love fun facts, so let’s do a little MLS Cup trivia.
Question 1: In the last 10 MLS Cups – since 2008 – how many of the managers have been American?
I’ll give you a second.
Question 2: How many international managers have ever lifted an MLS Cup? Before you answer, let’s define “international” quickly.
I’ve always felt there’s an Americanization period that takes place in MLS. Players and managers who arrive to MLS from abroad acclimate to the country and league, and in essence become domestic products. I would not consider Oscar Pareja, for example, to fit into the “international” category. Same with Thomas Rongen and Piotr Nowak. They each had experience in American soccer prior to their head coaching gigs. It’s an imperfect distinction, but it’s an important and reasonable distinction.
Take some time to come up with an answer. I hate spoilers. Read on when you’re ready.
Who are MLS's championship coaches?
Since 2008, 18 managers in MLS Cup have been American. That’s 18 out of 20.
Only two managers in MLS Cup over the last 10 years have not been American or "acclimatized" to the American system. Juan Carlos Osorio was in charge of the New York Red Bulls in 2008 and Englishman Gary Smith led Colorado to the 2010 MLS Cup.
If you remember Gary Smith (above), you probably know the answer to the second question. Gary Smith is the only coach to arrive from overseas and win MLS Cup. But a small caveat to the 2010 MLS Cup winning team: Smith had 11 American bred – either through the youth ranks or the college system – starters on that team.
MLS has changed a ton over the years, but there’s been one ever-present pattern (don’t ask me what it says about anything; that’s a conversation for another day). And it continues in Saturday’s MLS Cup. Both Seattle and Toronto boast American coaches, with Brian Schmetzer and Greg Vanney, respectively.
It’s a trend that makes sense. MLS has unique rules. I’ve followed the league since the inception and I’m still not positive how Allocation Money works. I can only imagine the first time someone told Atlanta's Tata Martino an opposing team wanted to trade him a draft pick or GAM.
Most teams have someone other than the coach to manage the salary cap, but it still surely helps to have a manager who understands the details. Additionally, MLS has travel requirements and field conditions you don’t find in most countries. New York City FC's Patrick Vieira has undoubtedly dealt with an amazing amount of nuance in his soccer life, but he had probably never had to manage a squad through a turnaround like a Saturday game in Houston heat and then a midweek match at Gillette Stadium.
It also helps to have more familiarity with personnel in the league, to both prepare for an opposition and make transactions. Over an 11-month season, a little specific know-how goes a long way.