Soler officially unveiled as NYRB sporting director

Red Bull Football have officially unveiled Erik Soler as the new sporting director for New York Red Bulls.

The former Norway international and IK Start owner was appointed to the role on Monday and will now begin the search for a head coach and a new Designated Player in a league he is quite unfamiliar with.

"People keep on telling me it's difficult. Difficult is not dangerous to me; it's difficult. I respect that,'' said Soler, attracted to the idea of a last-place team in a huge market with a new stadium and vast potential. "There are a lot of things I have to do; I have to look at my situation and this club's future. I can't dwell on things that have gone on in the past.

"I look upon the whole thing as teamwork. We're gonna have a number of coaches we have to have the right balance, if that includes a U.S. coach or foreign coach I wouldn’t say, but we need a strong team that understands (MLS),'' said Soler, who is fully aware that no coach lacking U.S. experience has ever won MLS Cup.

"It's an important point. But people would never do anything new if they always did what people have already done,'' said Soler, who described the profile of what he's looking for in a coach — an experienced, hands-on teacher who can build the players he has, not just buy new ones.”