Bafana Bafana great dumped as MLS side St. Louis City coach
Bafana Bafana great dumped as MLS side St. Louis City coach
Bradley Carnell was fired as coach of St. Louis City on Monday after the second-year MLS club struggled to three wins in this season’s first 20 matches.
The 47-year-old former Bafana Bafana defender was replaced on an interim basis by technical director John Hackworth on an interim basis.
Carnell played 42 matches for South Africa during his career, and also represented Wits University, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United in Mzansi.
City rank 12th in the Western Conference on 19 points, nine points out of a playoff spot.
‘Not an easy decision’
Carnell guided City to last year’s Western Conference regular-season title at winning 17, drawing three and losing 12 in the club’s inaugural season. But St. Louis was swept by Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs.
“Given Bradley’s many contributions to the club, this was not an easy decision,” City sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel said.
“Unfortunately, based on our year-two results to date, we believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club as we regroup and look to improve both our performance and our results.”
Hackworth went 20-23 with 14 drawn from 2012 to 2014 with the Philadelphia Union and has had various coaching roles with US national youth teams.
His first match guiding City will come on Wednesday when MLS bottom side San Jose visit St. Louis.