Unfathomable,The organization has granted Adrian, the former head coach of Minnesota United, permission to…
Adrian Heath, head coach of Minnesota United FC, has left the team, the team announced today. Assistant Coach Ian Fuller and Goalkeeping Coach Stewart Kerr will continue in their existing positions, with Assistant Coach Sean McAuley acting as the interim head coach for the balance of the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
“We are appreciative of Adrian’s commitment to our team and everything we have achieved in the previous seven seasons. Though it was a challenging choice, we think the moment is appropriate to take a different approach, according to MNUFC CEO Shari Ballard. “It’s common for clubs to concentrate solely on a coach’s last months of employment when they decide to change coaches, but Adrian made enormous contributions to MNUFC, and his departure shouldn’t be taken lightly. We are grateful for all he has done for MNUFC and our community; his dedication and enthusiasm have had a profound impact.
Heath became a member of the MNUFC in November 2016, just before the team’s 2017 MLS season. Heath guided the Loons to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup finals and their first-ever MLS Cup Playoff berth in 2019. In 2020, he maintained his success by making it to the Western Conference Finals and reaching the semifinals of the MLS Back Tournament. He finished 91-101-56 in all competitions during his seven seasons with the team, and he qualified for four MLS Cup Playoffs (2020, 2021, 2022, 2022). MNUFC (9-12-11) has two games left in the regular season and is currently ranked 12th in the Western Conference.
After serving as an assistant coach for two seasons with Orlando City SC and six seasons with the Portland Timbers—where he assisted in leading the team to the 2015 MLS Cup championship—Interim Head Coach McAuley is in his fifth season with MNUFC. The Englishman spent seven years building the academy at English team Sheffield Wednesday F.C. before starting his coaching career in 2006. Under his direction, some players from Wednesday’s academy signed with the first team.
Before turning to coaching, McAuley played professionally for fifteen years. McAuley, a Manchester United academy product, debuted professionally in the Scottish Premiership with St. Johnstone. Before retiring in 2005, McAuley played in 16 games for the Timbers in 2002 while the team was in the lower level.
Furthermore, Minnesota United said that they were no longer working with Technical Director Mark Watson. In 2017, Watson became an assistant coach at MNUFC for the team’s first MLS season. At the conclusion of the 2019 MLS season, Watson was appointed the team’s technical director.
