Fire's Bradley named Coach of the Year
Project-40 player Ben Olsen takes newcomer honors
Posted: Tuesday October 20, 1998 05:07 PM
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En fuego: Thornton had a 1.17 goals-against-average, helping to lead the Fire to the MLS Cup Aubrey Washington/Allsport |
PASADENA, California (AP) -- Bob Bradley, who led the expansion
Chicago Fire to the third-best record in the league and the MLS Cup
title game, was announced as Major League Soccer's Coach of the
Year Award winner on Tuesday.
Bradley left as the top assistant to Bruce Arena at D.C. United
the past two seasons to take over as the Fire's head coach and,
after a 2-5 start, finished with a 20-12 record.
His Fire has swept both the Dallas Burn and favored Los Angeles
Galaxy 2-0 in the Western Conference playoffs and will face either
Washington or Columbus on Sunday in the Rose Bowl in MLS Cup '98.
Bradley is the third member of the Fire to win a post-season
award. On Monday, Czech Lubos Kubik was announced as Defender of
the Year and Zach Thornton took Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
Also on Tuesday, Project-40 forward Ben Olsen of D.C. United was
announced as the Rookie of the Year. Olsen, who left the University
of Virginia after his junior year to join the MLS' and U.S. Soccer
Federation's joint development program, played in 31 games, started
24 and scored four goals for the two-time defending champion.
Also on Tuesday, Columbus Crew defender and U.S. national team
captain Thomas Dooley was announced as the MLS' Fair Play Award
winner.
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