In a move that should come as a surprise to no one who has been paying attention the last few months, the Colorado Rapids and Gary Smith have decided to "part ways," according to a press release by the club. Smith and Technical Director Paul Bravo have apparently been at odds for quite some time, and the coach recently went on the record about his problems with the man who was at least theoretically his boss.
Rapids, Gary Smith ‘Part Ways’ One Year After Winning MLS Cup
Rapids coach Gary Smith and Technical Director Paul Bravo had been at odds for quite some time.
“After meeting with Gary, we decided it would be in the best interest of both parties to move in a different direction,” Rapids Managing Director Jeff Plush said in the team release. “We’d like to thank Gary for his many contributions to the Colorado Rapids organization. He was instrumental in the Rapids winning our first-ever MLS Cup last year, and we wish him nothing but the best as he explores new opportunities.”
Although Smith and Bravo helped lead the Rapids to their first ever MLS Cup less than a year ago, that apparently did little to calm tensions between the two. The source of their disagreements is not entirely known, nor is why it became public recently, but the two decision-makers apparently never saw eye-to-eye on many personnel decisions. Smith was hired in 2008, a year before Bravo joined the team.
Whether or not they agreed on everything, they saw some reasonable success together. Smith ends his Rapids career with a 39-31-35 record.
See More:
