By Canadian Press

FC Cincinnati fires coach Jaap Stam, former TFC player Tyrone Marshall takes over

Sep 27, 2021 | 8:38 AM

CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati, Toronto FC’s opponent at BMO Field on Wednesday, has fired head coach Jaap Stam.

Tyrone Marshall, a former TFC player who had been serving as coach of Cincinnati’s under-19 and under-23 teams, will serve as interim head coach.

Cincinnati (4-13-8) stands 13th in the MLS Eastern Conference, one-point ahead of cellar-dwelling Toronto (4-15-7). The third-year MLS team finished last in the standings its first two years.

“During our nearly two-month process to identify the next general manager for FC Cincinnati, it was apparent that a head coach change was necessary. Therefore, after a great deal of deliberation, the club has made the decision to now move to the future with Jaap no longer serving as head coach,” Cincinnati president Jeff Berding said in a statement Monday.

“We believe a change in leadership is in the best interest of the club at this time, and a new general manager will lead the search for a new head coach.”

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Cincinnati also let go assistant coaches Said Bakkati and Yoann Damet.

Cincinnati was beaten 4-2 at D.C. United on Saturday, its third straight loss in a run that has seen it outscored 10-3. It has won just two of its last 17 league matches (2-8-7) with both wins coming over Toronto. 

Marshall joined Toronto in June 2007 in a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He played 16 games for TFC in 2007 and 24 in 2008 before being traded to Seattle in February 2009. He joined the Cincinnati academy coaching staff in February 2021 from Real Salt Lake, where he had been an assistant coach.

Stam took over Cincinnati in May 2020, hired by former GM Gerard Nijkamp who was fired in August after a 3-6-7 start to the season.

The former Manchester United defender had previously managed England’s Reading (2016-18) and PEC Zwolle (2018-19) and Feyenoord (2019) in his native Netherlands. Stam’s 15-year playing career also featured with PSV Eindhoven, Lazio, AC Milan and Ajax.

Stam was signed through Dec. 31, 2021 with a one-year club option for the 2022 season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2021.

The Canadian Press