Opinion: How do you fix a problem like the New York Red Bulls?
Bad managers, underperforming stars and even a curse have plagued this team for decades
The New York Red Bulls always find a way to make a mess of things.
The club has been around since 1996 when they were known as the NY/NJ MetroStars. Rebranded the Red Bulls after they were purchased by the Austrian energy-drink company in 2006, not much has really changed despite the infusion of cash.
Some blame it all on the “Curse of Caricola” from that inaugural season. Others point to a series of bad managers and star players who could never get the job done.
This pattern has played itself out again this season. The Red Bulls plunged into last place in the Eastern Conference after a 1-0 home defeat to the Philadelphia Union this past Saturday. The loss — the Red Bulls’ fourth in 11 league games — prompted the departure of manager Gerard Struber two days later.
“It's an ongoing process that you evaluate: Where are we? How do we play? How do we perform?” Red Bulls Head of Sport Jochen Schneider told reporters Monday following Struber’s departure. “We couldn't be happy with the outcome.”
The defeat to the Union proved decisive.
“We came to the decision now after the Philly game, together with Gerhard, that we need to do something,” Schneider added.
The Red Bulls have been trying to do something for years. They may be one of the most consistently competitive teams in MLS, but they’ve never won a league championship. Despite their regular season success, the team has never been able to win MLS Cup, the league’s ultimate prize. A lack of playoff success, managerial turnover and stars who never broke through are all to blame for this pattern of failure.
Although the Red Bulls have made the playoffs in all but four seasons since 2003, they have struggled to perform well in the postseason. They have made it to the MLS Cup Final just once (in 2008), losing to the Columbus Crew.
The Red Bulls have also had a high turnover of managers over the years, a problem when you are trying to build team chemistry and consistency. Since 2006, the team has had 11 different managers if you include Struber.
While the Red Bulls have had some talented players over the years, they have not had the same level of star power as some of the other successful MLS teams. Teams with marquee players have often been able to rely on their individual brilliance to win crucial matches in the playoffs. Roberto Donadoni, Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry were all big names, but none of them could get RBNY to the finish line.
The suspension of striker Dante Vanzeir last month for six games after he used racist language in a game against the San Jose Earthquakes was the start of this season’s turmoil. Then came a string of poor results and this week’s decision.
The result is to replace Struber with Troy Lesesne, a member of the coaching staff since 2022. The aim, Lesesne said, is for “a reset.” Yet another reset.
But Lesesne made it clear that this is a team that has to reach out to the fans.
“What I hope for moving forward, what that means for our club here, is that we can be more connected and that we can take steps towards making them feel like they have a voice within our club,” he said. “I think that’s what makes Red Bull so uniquely different from any other club in MLS. Just how we have the support of our community here and in New York.”
This is a team that still has plenty to play for. The MLS season is still young. The Red Bulls are also competing in the U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup. There’s nothing like a trophy in 2023 that could cure what ails this team and its long-suffering fans.