Houston Dynamo's Dominic Kinnear to Coach MLS All-Stars versus Everton FC at 2009 MLS All-Star Game
June 20, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - Houston Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear will lead the MLS All-Stars versus Everton FC in the 14th annual MLS All-Star Game on July 28 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The All-Star coaching honor is awarded to the coach whose team has the best points-per game record through June 28. With one game remaining to play before June 28, the Dynamo's points per game cannot drop below 1.87 and no other team can reach that average.
An emphatic headed goal by Brian Ching in the 90th minute earned Houston a 1-1 draw with visiting Real Salt Lake tonight that extended the Dynamo's unbeaten streak to 11 and clinched Kinnear's honor.
After an auspicious start with no wins in the first four games, Kinnear helped right the ship and the Dynamo have reeled off eight wins in their last 11 games to take the Western Conference lead.
As coach of the MLS All-Star team, Kinnear will select a minimum of five players and his coaching and training staff. If players selected for the All-Star First XI are unavailable due to international duty, injury or other commitments, Kinnear may decide on alternates.
The MLS All-Star First XI is scheduled to be announced in mid July. The First XI are determined by online fan balloting comprising 25 percent of the total vote, with MLS coaches and GMs (25 percent), media (25 percent) and players (25 percent) accounting for the remainder. Following the First XI announcement, Kinnear and his staff will select five All-Stars who will join two Commissioner's selections to complete the MLS 18-man roster.
Now in his fourth season as Dynamo head coach, Kinnear led the Dynamo to two MLS Cups (2006 & 2007). As coach of the San Jose Earthquakes, Kinnear captured MLS Coach of the Year honors in 2005 - the season prior to their move to Houston. This is his first chance to coach the All-Stars.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Kinnear relocated to Fremont, Calif. at age three. The former U.S. international began his professional career in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL). He played for both the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks and the Seattle Sounders, interrupted by a season with Necaxa of the Mexican First Division, winning one championship with each club. Kinnear joined MLS as a player with the San Jose Clash during the League's inaugural season in 1996. He also played with the Colorado Rapids and the Tampa Bay Mutiny in his 117-game MLS career, scoring six goals and tallying 26 assists.
Kinnear earned 54 caps for the U.S. Men's National Team with nine goals and two assists throughout his career. In 1993, he led the U.S. Men's National Team in scoring with seven goals and one assist. He was captain of the national squad for its match against his country of birth, Scotland, on May 17, 1992, in Denver.
Major League Soccer hosts its midseason showcase match between the League's top players and the best of the world. This will be the sixth time that the MLS All-Star Game has followed this format, adopted to ensure the most intriguing All-Star spectacle in North American professional sports. Last year, the MLS All-Stars defeated West Ham United, at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on goals from D.C. United midfielder Christian Gomez, Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne De Rosario and game MVP Chicago Fire forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco. In 2007, the MLS All-Stars defeated Celtic FC 2-0, at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., and in 2006 defeated Chelsea FC 1-0 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. In 2005, the MLS stars defeated English Premier League club Fulham FC, 4-1, at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Major League Soccer Stories from June 20, 2009
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- Brian McBride scores game-winning goal for Fire in the second half - Chicago Fire FC
- Houston Dynamo's Dominic Kinnear to Coach MLS All-Stars versus Everton FC at 2009 MLS All-Star Game - MLS
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- Red Bulls get a draw - New York Red Bulls
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