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NEWS RELEASE
DENVER (Wednesday, Sept. 12, 1996) -- Colorado Rapids President Bob Sanderman today appointed star forward Roy Wegerle as its interim coach for the remainder of the 1996 Major League Soccer and U.S. Open Cup season.
Wegerle, 32, a 10-year veteran of the English Premier League and member of the 1994 U.S. World Cup Team, steps in for Bob Houghton, who resigned Tuesday in the wake of the Rapids failure to qualify for the inaugural MLS playoffs.
"Wegerle is one of the leaders of this team," said Sanderman. "We felt that while we search for the best coach to lead our team next year, Roy can successfully lead our team into our U.S. Open Cup match Sunday (at Kansas City Wiz - 6:30 pm MT) and our final MLS match Sept. 21 (in Washington, D.C. - 5:30 pm MT)."
Sanderman indicated that Wegerle, who could also play, will work closely with the team's fellow veterans, including captain Steve Trittschuh, USA star Marcelo Balboa, and English Premier League players Chris Woods and Ian Butterworth. Balboa and Butterworth -- both injured -- will serve as the team's bench coaches should Wegerle play.
"I gladly accept this challenge," said Wegerle, who has been sidelined with a strained calf muscle. "The Rapids have some great talent and with a new focus I believe we can still make something of this season. More importantly, the team can now have a new outlook for the next season."
The Rapids said a full-time coach is expected to be named in the early fall.
Wegerle, who may also call upon himself as a player if he is deemed fit, is the only player in Major League Soccer to have played in the former North American Soccer League. Owner of an illustrious career in the English Premier League, he played the 1994-95 season for Coventry City, his 10th year in England. The six-foot, 170 lb., forward had his best season in professional soccer during the 1990-91 year when he was third in Premier League scoring with 19 goals for Queens Park Rangers.
Wegerle attended the University of South Florida from 1982-83 where he was the first USF player to be a two-time All-American selection. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Wegerle received his American citizenship in 1991 and immediately joined the U.S. National Team, where he has made 25 appearances for the USA, scoring three goals and tallying five assists. He played in all four of the USA's games at the 1994 World Cup.