Paul Dalglish will have some big shoes to fill.
The retired Scottish forward on Friday was named the new manager of the Ottawa Fury, becoming the second coach in the history of the North American Soccer League franchise. Dalglish was also hired at Ottawa’s new general manager.
“The head coach position at Ottawa Fury has garnered significant interest and, in Paul, we have attracted one of the most impressive young coaches in North American,” stated club president John Pugh in a news release.
“His passion for the game is infectious and the energy and strong values he will bring to the role will have a very positive impact across the club. Paul will immediately look to further strengthen the roster for 2016 and build on our highlight successful 2015 season.”
Dalglish, 38, replaces Montreal native Marc Dos Santos, who stepped down at the end of the NASL season after announcing his intentions to leave in September.
Dos Santos won the NASL’s coach of the year award this season, guiding the Fury to a tie for first place in the overall league standings. Ottawa also made it to the NASL’s championship final, losing 3-2 away to the New York Cosmos in last Sunday’s Soccer Bowl.
Dalglish played with a number of Scottish and English clubs during his career, including Celtic, Newcastle United and Norwich City. He also spent time in MLS, where he won the league title with the Houston Dynamo in 2006. He retired two years later.
He was previously an assistant coach with Houston and Real Salt Lake. Most recently he served as head coach and technical director of the Austin Aztex in the third-tier USL.
Dalglish is the son of legendary Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish.
Dos Santos, it was revealed on Friday, left Ottawa to become the new coach of Swope Park Rangers, the USL affiliate of MLS side Sporting Kansas City.
“I am absolutely delighted with the opportunity to take over an Ottawa team that is in such a good position from the work of Marc and his staff,” Dalglish said in a news release. “To get the job after this group had such a successful season is an honour and a privilege.”