MARK: MY TWILIGHT HIGHLIGHT
Wolverhampton-born Briggs has taken unfashionable Sacramento to America’s Cup Final... and he knew he’d got himself noticed at last when actress Kristen Stewart said: Hope you win it!
MARK BRIGGS might be low profile back home in the UK but he has left Hollywood in awe of his fairytale success in America.
Briggs can rue never fulfilling his potential as a player but he has channelled his energies into hitting the big time as a coach.
His three-year reign in charge of Sacramento Republic could peak this evening in the US Open Cup final after guiding his second-tier side all the way. They have upset MLS sides San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy and Kansas City en route with six victories in a memorable run.
Tonight they take on Orlando in Florida who boast former Brazil striker Alexandre Pato and star man Ercan Kara, whose combined salaries dwarf Sacramento’s total £900,000 budget.
It is a mismatch which has grabbed football fans’ attention across the Atlantic.
Briggs’ patient, progressive approach has paid off in his third season at the helm after a major rebuild in the close season.
Admirers of his work include American actress Kristen Stewart, star of the Twilight Saga film series.
Wolverhampton-born Briggs said: “For a club like us to reach the cup final is a little bit unheard of nowadays with the finances involved in the MLS, so the players have done fantastically to put ourselves in a position to win a trophy.
“They are saying over here we have become America’s team because everyone is behind us other than Orlando, who are the heavyweights. Even Kristen Stewart was filming a movie at a hotel where we were staying recently. The producer of the movie came running over and said, ‘Kristen and myself are big soccer fans and we really hope you win the Open Cup’.”
Briggs has produced some short films of his own to help inspire his underdogs on their famous cup run.
He added: “I have put together different little videos before each of the MLS games.
“The first one was a confidence-booster showing our games and goals, and what we are capable of. The second one against LA Galaxy I got individual personal messages on video from each person’s family members. Then before the semi-final I wanted to keep them calm and I got family members to send me clips of them playing football as kids.
“My message was, ‘Guys, you have been doing this your whole life, it is just a game’. The players are half expecting it now, so I am doing something for the final, too.”
Briggs’ side are the first lower league team to reach the final since Charleston in 2008.
The odds are stacked against them but regardless of the result, Briggs has proved any doubters wrong since a promising career as a midfielder stalled early on at West Brom under Gary Megson. Briggs, 40, added: “I didn’t reach my potential as a player but I think that is helping me with my coaching.
“I came through at West Brom and had a promising youth career and they signed me to a long-term contract.
“Then Gary Megson came in and didn’t like me or young players and froze me out. I was 20 years old and he completely ruined my confidence and shattered me as a young player.
“They ended up trading me to Denmark and I struggled being away from home and it went downhill from there.
“I finished my career in America and went into coaching here eventually.
“My experiences have given me extra impetus as a coach to make sure my communication skills are as high and clear as they possibly can be.
“That is how I like to run things and connect with the players to make them confident and comfortable to go and play. I also don’t take anything for granted.”
And neither should Orlando tonight.
‘For a club like us to reach the final is a bit unheard of, we’ve become USA’s team’
‘Gary Megson came in at West Brom and didn’t like me. I was 20 and he ruined me’