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Give & Go: Houston Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear
On the eve of the MLS playoffs, the coach of the two-time defending champion Houston Dynamo talks about the intimidation-factor at Robertson Stadium, the excitement of Superliga, and how to build a title-winning side.
Oct 29, 2008 2:34:20 PM
By John Mantia
Those who malign MLS’s playoff structure usually point to numbers of entrants. In a league where eight of 14 teams earn entry, it matters little whether a squad soars or stumbles into early November.
Lost in such deriding critiques is the weighty task of actually winning the MLS Cup, a feat even the most fervent detractors can’t discount; just ask the seven teams organizations still seeking their first. This reality makes Dominic Kinnear’s and the Houston Dynamo’s back-to-back MLS Cup triumphs all the more impressive.
Even more remarkable, Kinnear and the Dynamo, stretched by a slew of international competitions (beyond the grind of the MLS regular season), have still positioned themselves to claim an unprecedented third-straight title.
During a brief pause in the side’s preparations for the opening game of their first round series against the New York Red Bulls, the most successful coach in MLS spoke spoke exclusively with Goal.com.
Goal.com: You've won the Supporter's Shield while as an assistant coach with San Jose, and two MLS cups with Houston. Which is more difficult?
Kinnear: I don’t think people get enough credit for winning the Supporters’ Shield. It is not easy to finish top of your table. But in MLS the regular-season goal is to make the playoffs. So I think the grand prize is MLS Cup. You don’t want to say that the Supporters’ Shield doesn’t matter, but when you look back five years from now you aren’t going to name the winner. It’s very American to have a playoff and to crown a champion. The MLS Cup final has never disappointed in drama and quality.
Goal.com: With all the international tournaments and ever increasing competitiveness of the league, was this your toughest year yet?
Kinnear: All the competitions we’ve been playing are tough. I think we’ve played over 40 games. You throw in the Olympics, call-ups, World Cup qualifying, it’s been tough. Minding the way we started off the season, where we were playing okay but not winning games, I am satisfied. We’ve had a strong finish, which makes us happy.
Goal.com: What needs to change to ensure those who do well in the league aren’t too stretched by international tournaments?
Kinnear: Maybe limit teams to one competition during the season. We’ve been in Superliga and CONCACAF Champions League, which is great. We’ve really enjoyed our time in those tournaments. But it makes it hard. I think the thing would be the for teams who do well -- those who are the Open Cup Champion, the Supporters’ Shield winner or the MLS Cup champion -- they could only enter one competition, to lighten the load.
Goal.com: What about an expanded roster?
Kinnear: Insofar as the roster limitations, those things are probably going to stay the same. We have a deep team here, so with the emergence of players, it made our tough times not that bad. We didn’t miss much when our regulars weren’t playing.
Goal.com: Let’s say you have one choice, Superliga or CONCACAF Champions League. What tournament do you choose?
Kinnear: Well, that’s easy for me. I think SuperLiga is a fantastic tournament. Maybe because we had a lot of home games during that stretch, and our fans and the stadium are so excellent. I like playing those top Mexican teams and I think the format is excellent. The atmosphere, and the build-up to the games, it’s great.
Goal.com: The Dynamo is the only team that managed to thrive across all competitions, both domestic and international. What’s your philosophy in building a competitive squad?
Kinnear: When you look at our guys, a lot of them were with the Earthquakes in 2003, their last championship team. I inherited a very good team from Frank Yallop. I think we just added pieces along the way. Ricardo Clark has been a great addition, as has Brad Davis, Bobby Boswell this year, Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya and others. But the core of that San Jose team is still here. I think the secret to any team is having good players, and those players need to be selfless and motivated. We have different types of players, different personalities, but they commit to thinking about the same things for two hours a day.
Goal.com: Do you like the playoff format? Is there really any home-field advantage in a two-legged series?
Kinnear: The MLS playoffs, over the years, have been incredible. Also, you have to look at the final weeks in pushing for qualification -- just look at Real Salt Lake and Colorado last weekend. That’s great. It’s a great thing to see our league coming down to the last weekend, with everything on the line. As far the home-field advantage, it’s probably beneficial. With the second game at home, in front of your fans, you know what you need to do to advance.
Goal.com: Are there any elements in international tournaments you would like to incorporate into the MLS playoff format?
Kinnear: As the years go by, our format adjusts and it simply gets better. I think parity has something to do with that. I think the wildcard slots give teams everything to play for every single week. I am a traditionalist, really. I do enjoy single tables and promotion and relegation, but I’m not completely blind. We don’t have the economic capacity to support that. I like the way it’s going. You want drama. You want every game to have importance. It came down to the last games last weekend, and that’s important.
Goal.com: What teams present the greatest challenge to your defending the title?
Kinnear: I think any team right now is dangerous. Like I said, some teams that got in on the last day have new life, new confidence, new energy, and a new focus. All the teams, whether they’ve been here or not, present their own unique challenges. No team stands out, because any team that catches the right form can do a lot of damage.
Goal.com: Almost 15 years after you spent a brief spell with the Seattle Sounders, that club will join MLS. How competitive do you expect them to be?
Kinner: Seattle needed a good goalkeeper and they got one. Kasey Keller is arguably one of the best American goalkeepers ever. They signed Freddie Lundberg, and everyone knows if he remains healthy, he’s a dynamic player. They have a lot of money behind the franchise, and from what I read in the press they have a great fan base so far in season ticket deposits. They have an MLS person in charge on the soccer side with Chris Henderson. Now they need a coach. I hope that the coach is from within MLS, because I am pro-MLS and I want people in this league who deserve a chance to get one.
Goal.com: Part of ensuring continued growth, amid expansion, is the stadium. What is the latest in Houston?
Kinnear: That’s where I have no information for you (laughs). I stay away form that stuff. The only thing I can say is I hope we get our stadium for two reasons. First, we have guys that never had their own stadium. They deserve one. I also think that the supporters have been great, even in such a short period of time. It’s close to just three years and they’ve made it one of the best places to play, and one of the most intimidating places to play in the entire league.
Goal.com: They certainly have. Good luck in the playoffs.
Kinnear: Thanks.
John Mantia's Give & Go interviews appear regularly on Goal.com.
Those who malign MLS’s playoff structure usually point to numbers of entrants. In a league where eight of 14 teams earn entry, it matters little whether a squad soars or stumbles into early November.
Lost in such deriding critiques is the weighty task of actually winning the MLS Cup, a feat even the most fervent detractors can’t discount; just ask the seven teams organizations still seeking their first. This reality makes Dominic Kinnear’s and the Houston Dynamo’s back-to-back MLS Cup triumphs all the more impressive.
Even more remarkable, Kinnear and the Dynamo, stretched by a slew of international competitions (beyond the grind of the MLS regular season), have still positioned themselves to claim an unprecedented third-straight title.
During a brief pause in the side’s preparations for the opening game of their first round series against the New York Red Bulls, the most successful coach in MLS spoke spoke exclusively with Goal.com.
Goal.com: You've won the Supporter's Shield while as an assistant coach with San Jose, and two MLS cups with Houston. Which is more difficult?
Kinnear: I don’t think people get enough credit for winning the Supporters’ Shield. It is not easy to finish top of your table. But in MLS the regular-season goal is to make the playoffs. So I think the grand prize is MLS Cup. You don’t want to say that the Supporters’ Shield doesn’t matter, but when you look back five years from now you aren’t going to name the winner. It’s very American to have a playoff and to crown a champion. The MLS Cup final has never disappointed in drama and quality.
Goal.com: With all the international tournaments and ever increasing competitiveness of the league, was this your toughest year yet?
Kinnear: All the competitions we’ve been playing are tough. I think we’ve played over 40 games. You throw in the Olympics, call-ups, World Cup qualifying, it’s been tough. Minding the way we started off the season, where we were playing okay but not winning games, I am satisfied. We’ve had a strong finish, which makes us happy.
Goal.com: What needs to change to ensure those who do well in the league aren’t too stretched by international tournaments?
Kinnear: Maybe limit teams to one competition during the season. We’ve been in Superliga and CONCACAF Champions League, which is great. We’ve really enjoyed our time in those tournaments. But it makes it hard. I think the thing would be the for teams who do well -- those who are the Open Cup Champion, the Supporters’ Shield winner or the MLS Cup champion -- they could only enter one competition, to lighten the load.
Goal.com: What about an expanded roster?
Kinnear: Insofar as the roster limitations, those things are probably going to stay the same. We have a deep team here, so with the emergence of players, it made our tough times not that bad. We didn’t miss much when our regulars weren’t playing.
Goal.com: Let’s say you have one choice, Superliga or CONCACAF Champions League. What tournament do you choose?
Kinnear: Well, that’s easy for me. I think SuperLiga is a fantastic tournament. Maybe because we had a lot of home games during that stretch, and our fans and the stadium are so excellent. I like playing those top Mexican teams and I think the format is excellent. The atmosphere, and the build-up to the games, it’s great.
Goal.com: The Dynamo is the only team that managed to thrive across all competitions, both domestic and international. What’s your philosophy in building a competitive squad?
Kinnear: When you look at our guys, a lot of them were with the Earthquakes in 2003, their last championship team. I inherited a very good team from Frank Yallop. I think we just added pieces along the way. Ricardo Clark has been a great addition, as has Brad Davis, Bobby Boswell this year, Nate Jaqua, Joseph Ngwenya and others. But the core of that San Jose team is still here. I think the secret to any team is having good players, and those players need to be selfless and motivated. We have different types of players, different personalities, but they commit to thinking about the same things for two hours a day.
Goal.com: Do you like the playoff format? Is there really any home-field advantage in a two-legged series?
Kinnear: The MLS playoffs, over the years, have been incredible. Also, you have to look at the final weeks in pushing for qualification -- just look at Real Salt Lake and Colorado last weekend. That’s great. It’s a great thing to see our league coming down to the last weekend, with everything on the line. As far the home-field advantage, it’s probably beneficial. With the second game at home, in front of your fans, you know what you need to do to advance.
Goal.com: Are there any elements in international tournaments you would like to incorporate into the MLS playoff format?
Kinnear: As the years go by, our format adjusts and it simply gets better. I think parity has something to do with that. I think the wildcard slots give teams everything to play for every single week. I am a traditionalist, really. I do enjoy single tables and promotion and relegation, but I’m not completely blind. We don’t have the economic capacity to support that. I like the way it’s going. You want drama. You want every game to have importance. It came down to the last games last weekend, and that’s important.
Goal.com: What teams present the greatest challenge to your defending the title?
Kinnear: I think any team right now is dangerous. Like I said, some teams that got in on the last day have new life, new confidence, new energy, and a new focus. All the teams, whether they’ve been here or not, present their own unique challenges. No team stands out, because any team that catches the right form can do a lot of damage.
Goal.com: Almost 15 years after you spent a brief spell with the Seattle Sounders, that club will join MLS. How competitive do you expect them to be?
Kinner: Seattle needed a good goalkeeper and they got one. Kasey Keller is arguably one of the best American goalkeepers ever. They signed Freddie Lundberg, and everyone knows if he remains healthy, he’s a dynamic player. They have a lot of money behind the franchise, and from what I read in the press they have a great fan base so far in season ticket deposits. They have an MLS person in charge on the soccer side with Chris Henderson. Now they need a coach. I hope that the coach is from within MLS, because I am pro-MLS and I want people in this league who deserve a chance to get one.
Goal.com: Part of ensuring continued growth, amid expansion, is the stadium. What is the latest in Houston?
Kinnear: That’s where I have no information for you (laughs). I stay away form that stuff. The only thing I can say is I hope we get our stadium for two reasons. First, we have guys that never had their own stadium. They deserve one. I also think that the supporters have been great, even in such a short period of time. It’s close to just three years and they’ve made it one of the best places to play, and one of the most intimidating places to play in the entire league.
Goal.com: They certainly have. Good luck in the playoffs.
Kinnear: Thanks.
John Mantia's Give & Go interviews appear regularly on Goal.com.
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