Two published reports on Thursday said Minnesota United is expected to name Adrian Heath the team's coach for its inaugural MLS season in 2017. He previously coached the Major League Soccer franchise in Orlando.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press, citing an unnamed source, followed an earlier report by Goal USA, an online soccer news site that cited anonymous sources.
United officials would not comment Thursday. Heath could not be reached for comment.
Heath, 55, coached Orlando City from 2008 until this past July, guiding it through two transitions. The first was the club's move from Austin, Texas, to Orlando in 2011 as a member of the USL. The second was its move to MLS in 2015.
He coached the team to a 16-18-16 record in 1½ seasons of MLS play.
Heath, from England, played for English clubs Stoke City and Everton in the 1980s. He began coaching for the English side Burnley in 1996. He later coached at Sheffield United.
Minnesota United Sporting Director Manny Lagos said Wednesday that the team would "like to make sure" a coach is hired before the team begins selecting players in the MLS expansion draft on Dec. 13.
Earlier this week the club announced the hiring of Amos Magee as director of player personnel. Magee, a former Minnesota prep and Thunder soccer standout, spent the past three years as an assistant coach with D.C. United.
STAFF REPORTS
