The Earthquakes named former Italian football club AS Roma staffer Jesse Fioranelli GM, and in San Jose, Elliott Almond writes it is a "bold move that could shape the Bay Area's soccer future for the next decade." Fioranelli has "deep roots in European soccer as an administrator with major Italian teams," as he had served with AS Roma since '15 in player scouting, match analysis and recruitment for the first team and youth system. He "replaces John Doyle, who was fired in August." Earthquakes interim GM Chris Leitch will remain as the team’s Technical Dir. The Earthquakes "made a statement they plan a major reboot by hiring an MLS outsider who should have strong connections to sign solid European talent." The Earthquakes’ search team "identified more than 270 candidates and it eventually talked to 65 of them." The team "conducted in-depth interviews with 29 prospects before narrowing the final list to six" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/6).
CATCH A STAR: Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson said that the club is "going after a 'high-level' designated player" and is now "'close' to signing the player" (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/6). That comes as ESPN’s Adrian Healey noted the offseason "has been a little different for MLS (because) we haven’t seen” teams signing the “big names of the last two or three years.” Healey: "It seems to be younger South American, Central American talent.” CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Sebastian Salazar said it "really depends on the market,” as NYC FC has signed in recent years MF Andrea Pirlo, F David Villa and MF Frank Lampard because the team is in a “market where they really needed to make a big splash" ("ESPN FC," ESPNews, 1/5).
HEY ROCCO! SI.com's Brian Straus cited a source as saying that Mediacom Communications Founder & CEO Rocco Commisso has "agreed in principle" to become the NASL N.Y. Cosmos' Majority Owner. However, Commisso's purchase is "contingent on one very critical variable." The Cosmos will "play only in the NASL, and the NASL -- despite its issues and the USL’s application -- must maintain D2 status" (SI.com, 1/5).
