Home »

[bana2166]

RUNNING FROM THE BULLS :Lalas steps down as New York Red Bulls GM, president, will take on a similar role with the Los Angeles Galaxy

April 16, 2006

Alexi Lalas is expected to announce he has quit as GM and president of the Red Bulls on Monday, sources said.

By Michael Lewis

BigAppleSoccer.com

The Alexi Lalas era in the BigApple area will turn out to be a short one -- slightly more than 10 months.

Lalas has tendered his resignation as president and general manager of the New York Red Bulls to become president of the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to reliable MLS sources.

Lalas is expected to make the announcement on Monday.

On April 11, BigAppleSoccer.com reported that Lalas could step down from that position as early as last week and take on similar responsibilities with the defending MLS champions.

That would give Lalas high profile positions with three MLS teams -- the San Jose Earthquakes (now the Houston Dynamo) and the MetroStars (now the Red Bulls).

It was not known who would replace Lalas as president and GM.

The rumors started around the time of the stunning and tragic death of Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton last month and were reinforced after the club last week hired an assistant GM -- Tom Payne -- although it has no GM.

Several sources around the league and close to the team recently said that Lalas would be heading west soon and join the Galaxy as the GM. Some other sources claimed the move could happen as early as last week.

Lalas will be rejoining the Anschutz Entertainment Group family.

According to league-wide sources, Galaxy coach Steve Sampson was against naming Lalas as L.A. GM. The two had an uneasy relationship at best because Lalas was one of Sampson's biggest critics at the 1998 World Cup. Lalas, who had played during qualifying, was benched at France '98.

Lalas did not make himself available to BigAppleSoccer.com for comment last Monday, as team officials claimed he wanted to have some time with his family.

The Red Bull management wanted to make some front office changes, sources said, regardless who was in charge. They wanted their own man to run the show.

On June 13, 2005 Lalas was named president and GM the MetroStars, who were purchased by Red Bull on March 9 and were re-branded as the Red Bulls.

With Lalas leaving the club, coach Mo Johnston's job could be in serious jeopardy. The Red Bulls have tied their first three matches of the season.

Without a friendly face in the front office to deflect criticism and run interference, Johnston's days as coach could be numbered as the Red Bulls want to put their own man in charge.

Johnston has a one-year contract with an option for three more, so eating the contract would not be a big financial sacrifice, especially for a team owner that has such deep financial pockets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sayonara, Alexi

April 16, 2006

Less than a week after claiming that he will not leave the club, Alexi Lalas is posed to do just that, quitting as RBNY's GM and president to assume a similar job at the Los Angeles Galaxy. "Unless I get [myself] fired, I plan on being here," Lalas said on Media Day. "I have no intention of leaving," he told the Star-Ledger just last Thursday. And now it looks like he is doing exactly that, less than a year after the surprising takeover from Nick Sakiewicz.

Of course, this is not the first time Lalas has engaged in double-talk. From claiming that he would let Bob Bradley finish out the season to firing him before it was over, to offering Frank Yallop the coaching job while saying that doing so would not be fair to then-interim coach Mo Johnston, to many other examples, too numerous to mention. His feud with Amado Guevara this offseason was one for the tabloids, if US tabloids ever cared about soccer.

But other than the double-talk, Lalas seemed to excel where previous Metro GM's failed; reaching out to fans, listening, trying to create converts. The Red Bull takeover probably derailed his efforts in some way, as the company supposively wants to go in a different direction than the one Lalas was pointing Metro.

So as we look toward... a return of Sakiewicz? Giorgio Chinaglia, the pompous jackass? Lothar Matthaus? Franz Beckenabuer himself? The circus that is Metro is not slowing down at all

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lalas Era Over in New York

To take similar position with the Los Angeles Galaxy

Jason Endres · April 16, 2006

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (MNN) - After only ten months as the New York Red Bulls General Manager, Alexi Lalas has decided to call it quits.

Spanish television station, Univision, first reported Sunday that Lalas submitted his resignation to Red Bull and is expected to join the Los Angeles Galaxy to fill the position of Team President/General Manager vacated by the death of former Galaxy Team President Doug Hamilton.

His resignation contradicts a statement he made Thursday to the Star Ledger in which he said, "I have no intention of leaving." However, Lalas did leave the door open by saying in the same article, "Those people paid a lot of money to own this organization and whatever they feel is the right thing to do, they'll do. I'll be fine with whatever happens."

Lalas heading to Los Angeles ends a ten month roller coaster ride for New York fans.

During his time in the Big Apple, New York saw its most significant changes in club history. Lalas oversaw the announcement of a new soccer specific stadium to be built in Harrison, New Jersey and the transition from the MetroStars to the Red Bulls.

His record on the field, was a little more mixed. In his time in New York, the team compiled a moderate 9-8-9 record and was knocked out in the first round of the 2005 MLS Playoffs. He brought in quality players such as Tony Meola and Marvell Wynne. However, he let blue chip prospects like Michael Bradley and Tim Ward leave the club.

With Lalas leaving for Los Angeles, Mo Johnston is imeadiately on the hot seat. Red Bull has made it clear that it wants to put its own stamp on the New York club and without Lalas around, Johnston has even more pressure to perform. After starting the season with three straight ties, Red Bull will not hesitate to pull the trigger on the Scot and bring in their own coach.

Lalas is expected to make a formal annoucement Monday. It is unknown at this time who will take over his role with the team.