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Red Bulls look set to add new defender, assistant coach​ – Metro US

Red Bulls look set to add new defender, assistant coach​

Red Bulls look set to add new defender, assistant coach​
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A new centerback as well as a new assistant coach could be on the horizon for the New York Red Bulls over the next few days, with the player potentially bringing some international flavor to the team.

Last week the Red Bulls lost Gideon Baah for the season due to injury, devastating news that now sees them having to add some depth after the promising central defender was designated as lost for the season. Baah missed the second half of last year with a broken leg and it is that same injury that will cause him to miss the full season this go around, a frustrating development for the once-capped Ghanaian.

In his place, the Red Bulls are shopping and seem to have honed in on a specific player, with sporting director Denis Hamlett and head scout Rob Elliott leading the charge.

“The search is probably taking on an international flavor but we’re also evaluating what is out there. If we can integrate someone from Red Bull II, that would be good,” Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch said on Wednesday. “We’ll see, we’ll see what’s available, we’ll see in the short-term as in before May but also the potential in the summer window.”

Ironically, the search for another assistant coach comes to replace the aforementioned Hamlett, who assumed a new role with the organization as sporting director. He replaces Ali Curtis, the analytics-driven maven who oversaw the two most successful seasons in franchise history, all done with among the lowest payrolls in the league.

Hamlett is well-respected and admired in MLS circles and certainly had similar sentiments withinin the Red Bulls locker room from among the players. It isn’t surprising given that he was a player in MLS during the league’s inaugural season and has had a coaching career that includes virtually every level of soccer in this country.

Replacing someone with his pedigree but also finding that same calm, assuring demeanor won’t be easy.

“We’ve made a decision and come to an agreement with a coach , we’re not ready to announce it yet but hopeful in the next couple of weeks that it all becomes clear and that we get him here as quickly as possible,” Marsch said.