Johan Cruyff dismissed as Chivas USA’s troubles deepen

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for Chivas USA, it did.

Less than four months into the reign of the famously impetuous Jorge Vergara, Chivas USA finds itself without a coach and without a front office. And now the man tasked with filling some of the holes has himself been fired.

Vergara, who has gone through more than a coach a year with his Mexican league team, Chivas de Guadalara, announced last month former Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff would be in charge of remaking his MLS team. But Cruyff, hired as an adviser nine months ago to turn around Vergara’s flagging Mexican team, was dismissed Sunday.

“The club has decided to terminate the services and consultancy with the company of Mr Johan Cruyff,” Chivas said in a statement. “This is because of not meeting the outcomes and objectives that have been established since the beginning of the contractual relationship. The coaching staff will not be affected, therefore technical director, trainer and technical assistants will continue to work with the club. The club thanks Mr Johan Cruyff for the support and collaboration he has provided.”

Chivas USA, which has missed the playoffs the last three seasons, dismissed Coach Robin Fraser in November and has let its entire front office go since its last game in October.

In his only public statements on Chivas USA since he and his wife, Angelica Fuentes, took over the franchise, Vergara said Cruyff would be in charge of hiring the team’s new technical staff. Vergara said the team had three men in mind for the head coaching job and a decision was expected before the end of November.

That timeline has now been altered. And with the league draft now less than six weeks away, time is running short.

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