New England Revolution Sporting Director Discusses Future With Club
“I’m the Sporting Director of this team, until I’m not."
The New England Revolution parted ways with head coach Caleb Porter but sporting director Curt Onalfo believes that he has proven that he shouldn’t face a similar fate.
Onalfo was directly asked by Boston.com’s Hayden Bird why he should have a job when he was also present while New England serially underperformed.
“That’s a question for other people,” Onalfo replied. “I would say that in each window, we’ve assembled better players. That’s my job, and that’s something I can control. This past window, we added Matt Turner, best goalkeeper in the league, who was bought for eight million dollars, and we got him for free. For me, that’s my job. Those are things I can control and do whatever I can to support the coach to be successful. That’s how I would answer your question.”
New England has done some shroud business with Onalfo at the helm. Along with bringing in Turner, the Revs sold Esmir Bajraktarevic and was also able to get out from under the contracts of Mark-Anthony Kaye and Giacomo Vrioni. Additionally, the acquisitions of Ilay Feingold and Alhassan Yusuf has largely been a success with both players having firm control over a spot in the starting XI.
The Revs have also continued to develop young talent as Peyton Miller seems to be on the path towards a European transfer, and 18-year-old Allan Oyirwoth earned his first MLS start in New England’s 1-1 draw with Toronto FC.
After Bird’s question, The Blazing Musket followed up and asked Onalfo if he has had conversations with Brian Billelo or club ownership about his future with the club.
“I’m the Sporting Director of this team, until I’m not,” Onalfo replied. “My focus is on being steady. I’ve been through a lot in my life. This is not the most difficult thing I’ve dealt with in my life. It’s easy for people on the outside to point the finger and say what they would do, and this and that. That’s all part of it and that’s the way it should be, because it’s professional athletics. But I’m very optimistic about the roster, about this club, and where we’re going. When it turns, it turns. I steadfastly believe in our future.”
Surprised he didn’t mention how an ideal candidate will help achieve his ideal vision of being a club that loses games
Please, could you guys at the Blazing Musket slow down when you relaying these amazing insights from the now-departed Porter and now this Onalfo fellow?
"When it turns, it turns."
It's going to take me awhile to spell out each letter carefully and repeat it to myself to get the full genius. Any mistake in my life, like royally screwing up a Major League Soccer team two seasons in a row, I'm repeating that out loud to the world.