The man from Long Island holds the record for the most games played for the club. He made 157 appearances in all competitions playing sound defense and sticking up for his teammates before Austrian soda had anything to do with New York/New Jersey soccer. He came back for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. While Mike Petke was carrying out stints in Washington DC where he won a championship and solidifying the back line in Colorado, the soda company committed the atrocity of stripping our club of the name, shield, colors, and identity in 2006.
Last season, with three games left and the team in playoff position, the Sporting Director Erik Soler from Norway was suddenly fired. It was obvious that a new group of people were getting their turn at the helm. Sure enough it soon became official that Head Coach Hans Backe from Sweden would be finished as soon as the season was over and the Scandinavian reign would end, regardless of the result. With this deft execution of perfect planning, precise timing, and rock solid stability, the players entered the playoffs that they fought so hard to earn for the past seven months. It was one round and out.
Then came the next round of soccer geniuses with their sparkling international resumes. General Manager Jerome de Bontin from France. Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh from Scotland. Director of Global Soccer Gerard Houllier, also from France. Its a who’s who list of accomplished soccer celebrities which suddenly have an interest in Harrison, New Jersey. Their first order of business was to hire a head coach. The A-Team rummaged the globe for The One. They attempted to obtain the services of Gary McAllister from Scotland and then Paulo Sousa from Portugal. It didn’t pan out, and preseason training began. They assured us that they are not rushing the process. Three days into training camp without a coach, their search finally ended. The guy that ran the show the whole time as an assistant and then as Interim Coach was awarded the job: Mike Petke. It is the best possible conclusion to the job search. Just four months late.
After seeing great coaches report to preposterous management at this club, along with the longest list of other ex-head coaches, the trophy cabinet is still void of MLS and Lamar Hunt trophies. At our helm we’ve seen Bob Bradley fired by Alexi Lalas and go on to coach the National Team. We’ve seen Bruce Arena clash with soda management and go on to create his second MLS dynasty in Los Angeles. We’ve seen coaches from Portugal, Brazil, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Colombia, and Ecuador among others come and go.
The trophies will come. The question is under what circumstance. The Metrostars represent too sacred a piece of historic American soccer land and too elite of a society of soccer fans to not have a soul. A soccer club should be an extension and representation of the soccer community it serves. The club is that area’s connection to the soccer world. When this team wins, the best soccer fans in America should be happy. When they lose, they should be sad. A championship should feel like the status and reputation of the area’s soccer aptitude rose.
Now we support one of our own as he leads a committed legendary French striker and Company. His tenure gives us some of the identity of the Metrostars back. When Mike Petke wins, we win.
2006: Crime of the Century.
A promise. By winning this season, Mike Petke can transcend Red Bull’s soccer management.