HIS JOB IS SAFE Johnston stays as Metros, err, Red Bulls coach
Mo Johnston on the new Red Bull owners: "It's a wonderful opportunity. You have an outside investor who invests in the league. It shows you how far Major League Soccer has come." MetroStars photo
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
On Wednesday night, Mo Johnston was MetroStars head coach.
On Thursday morning, he was told he was New York Red Bulls coach.
And he didn't have to move an inch to his "new team."
Just a different name and new colors.
Such is life in the fast lane as the MetroStars were transformed into the Red Bulls as Anschutz Entertainment Group Thursday sold the MLS team to Red Bull, the Austrian energy drink producer.
There were reports that the new regime would make some sweeping changes. But that isn't the case, at least for now.
"I've been told my job is safe," he said Thursday afternoon.
"Three months ago, I got a call from (Youri) Djorkaeff. He was very concerned," Johnston said about the sale of the club. "For me, it goes to show we're trying to do a good job here."
Johnston was enthusiastic about the new owners.
"I'm very excited," he said. "Nothing changes on our part. The team moves forward.
"It's a wonderful opportunity. You have an outside investor who invests in the league. It shows you how far Major League Soccer has come."
While training the then Metros in Carson, Calif. Johnston said he received a call that he needed to be at the team's offices in Secaucus, N.J. Thursday. He hopped on a red-eye flight and walked into the offices at 7:15 a.m. and was finished with his meeting at 1 p.m.
He met with club president and general manager Alexi Lalas and Red Bull officials and was told he was being retained as coach. Johnston replaced the fired Bob Bradley on an interim basis in October, 2005.
He guided the team into the playoffs before it was bounced in the opening round. Several weeks later Lalas hired Johnston on a full-time basis. He has a one-year contract, with three option years.
Asked about his reaction to the news he would remain as coach, Johnston replied, "I've told you this all along. I'm genuinely not a nervous person. If I was fired today, I would have walked through the doors. I would have thanked everyone.
"I would have thanks all the staff I have worked with the last six months. I would have thanked Alexi and congratulated the guys who had taken over. And then I would have packed my bags and walked through the doors.
"Look, I'm a big boy. I know what goes on in the world of soccer. I've been through it before and I'll go through it again."
Johnston wasn't finished.
"I told you this when I got the job," he said. "If Alexi said it was over, I would have walked through the doors with a smile on my face, because you know what? I gave everything I had."
According to a Red Bull press release, the Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg, the Austrian First Division club the company purchased last year, would work together, including on the player front.
Johnston said he was familiar with the team, having played against Rapid Vienna in the old European Cup (now Champions League) and the now-defunct Cup Winners Cup competitions.
"Can you get two strikers?" he jokingly asked a reporter.
Then Johnston became serious.
"It's wonderful to work with a team overseas," he said. "I don't care who sits around the table. I am not intimidated by people. I'm happy to work with people and I've always been that."
Michael Lewis can be reached at BigAppleEdit@aol.com. He will only answer letters and e-mails that are signed or have names.
