DCU: Looking Back and Ahead

Steven Goff | Soccer Insider

D.C. United midfielder-forward Santino Quaranta, on the departure of Coach Tom Soehn: "I will always have a special place for Tommy because he helped me so much when I came back to the team. I've got a lot of respect for him. ... Late in the season, you could tell what this year was doing to him. He had been through so such and he was tired. ... In the end, it wasn't Tommy that was playing. You could see how inconsistent we were. We had so many chances to get it right and we couldn't do it. How much of that was Tommy? I'm not sure. Everyone on our team can put their hand up and say that they let him down."

Defender Bryan Namoff: "I was under the impression that he was coming back. I'm a little surprised. ... It's a difficult transition for the players when you bring in a new coach. You have to re-prove yourself. You're on trial in a way and you don't know whether you fit into the new coach's plans. I hope they don't try to break up this team."

So what now for DCU?

The list of potential candidates is likely to include.....

Richie Williams: Former DCU midfielder, currently New York's interim coach. If the Red Bulls don't offer him the full-time gig, will United make a move?

Curt Onalfo: Former DCU player and assistant, Virginia graduate, worked for Arena on the national team staff, coached Kansas City for 2 1/2 seasons before being let go this year, speaks Spanish fluently.

John Spencer: Fourth year as top assistant at Houston. Name mentioned regularly for openings. Scotland native, strong European ties.

Dave Sarachan: Former assistant with DCU and the 2002 U.S. World Cup squad, guided Chicago to MLS Cup in 2003, currently an assistant at Los Angeles. He doesn't have the top job with the Galaxy, but is well-compensated, works with longtime colleague Bruce Arena and living in sunny SoCal.

Preki: Chivas USA head coach might be available after the season. Two-time MLS most valuable player, fierce competitor as player and coach.

Sasho Cirovski: In his 17th season at the University of Maryland, has won two national championships the past four years and guided the Terps to six final fours. No pro or USSF experience, holds essentially a job-for-life in College Park.

Colin Clarke: Mediocre results in three full seasons at Dallas but has had league and international success with the second-division Puerto Rico Islanders.