Major League Soccer

Source: Preki Out, Martin Vasquez To Coach Chivas USA

Current coach Preki may join Bob Bradley with the USA national team, now that assistant John Hackworth has joined Peter Nowak in Philadelphia.

Nov 10, 2009 4:26:07 PM

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MLS: Preki, coach, Chivas USA (ISI)

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Chivas USA

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The coaching carousel in North America is spinning again, and Goal.com has learned it could lead to quite a few changes out West.

Chivas USA, despite making the playoffs for a fourth year in a row, failed yet again to advance out of the first round, falling to the Los Angeles Galaxy this past weekend by a penalty-kick goal.

Current coach Preki is only contracted to the club for 2010 if the team picks up his option.

An inside source has revealed to Goal.com that the club has decided to instead offer the top spot to Martin Vasquez.

Vasquez was a longtime assistant coach at Chivas USA, having served in that capacity to Thomas Rongen, Hans Westerhof, Bob Bradley and Preki in a span from 2005 to 2008.

He previously worked as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy under Steve Sampson in 2004.

Besides taking turns on either side of the local Los Angeles rivalry, Vasquez holds an interesting distinction as being the only player (pending Edgar Castillo's possible USA appearance) to represent both Mexico and the United States.

Vasquez played three friendly games for Mexico from 1991 to 1992. Years later, when his USA citizenship was complete, he played crucial matches for the USA, including the 1997 World Cup qualifying match where the Americans earned their only point in history in Estadio Azteca.

Through his many years in Southern California, Vasquez was well-acquainted with Jurgen Klinsmann, who settled in the area. Klinsmann named Vasquez his assistant at Bayern Munich in 2008. Vasquez left the club when Klinsmann was dismissed earlier this year.

If named to the head coaching position, Vasquez would become the first Mexican-American coach in Major League Soccer.

When contacted by Goal.com for comment, Chivas USA's media relations stated, "Preki is still the coach of Chivas USA. As the season has ended, all coaches and players are under evaluation."

Old ties might be renewed again in a different context. Preki may join the USA national team staff of Bradley, now that assistant coach John Hackworth has accepted the same position in Philadelphia, with the Union. Before Bradley took the United States coaching position, Preki was his assistant, along with Vasquez, at Chivas USA.

Goal.com

For more on the Major League Soccer playoffs, visit Goal.com's MLS page

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