The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Glass flying flag for Scotland as he lives out American dream
Former Dons and Hibs favourite aims to grab his big chance after stepping into Frank de Boer’s shoes
Stephen Glass may be 4,000 miles away but he still wants to fly the flag for Scotland as he lives out his very own American dream.
The Dundee-born new interim head coach of Atlanta United might have to pinch himself when he walks out at the huge Mercedes-benz Stadium on Sunday for his side’s opening game of the Major League Soccer season against Nashville.
Made of the determination, stoicism and self-belief so prevalent in his home city, however, Glass won’t be overawed.
Instead, he seems to have taken in his stride the daunting task of replacing Dutch superstar Frank de Boer as boss in one of world football’s highest-profile leagues.
His top target is a winning start that maybe, just maybe, could see his job title shake off the word “interim.”
Glass, 44, who was capped by his country as well as playing for Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Hibs, Newcastle and Watford, is carrying with him a hope he can show that Scots managers can not only survive but thrive at the top level of American soccer.
He said: “I think any time a Scottish manager or even a Scottish person is doing well in another country it is good.
“Hopefully, if I am successful then it is something that people can look at and enjoy from afar. ‘Your family can do that anyway but there is a history of Scottish managers going away and doing well.
“Obviously, it is on an interim basis at the minute so we will see how it goes but I think anybody who is Scottish likes to do well abroad.”
Glass was promoted from manager of Atlanta United 2, their second or reserve team, to the top job as recently as July 27 following De Boer’s departure by mutual consent.
Glass had been linked to the vacant post at Dundee United prior to Micky Mellon’s appointment, not surprising given that he is a lifelong fan of the Tangerines.
But Glass, you won’t be surprised to discover, is happy with life in the Georgian capital and now the greatest of opportunities lies before him.
Get the campaign off to a winning start and the job could be his on a permanent basis.
As he stands on the cusp of opening day, it is worth noting the size of the Atlanta United organisation.
Their Mercedes-benz Stadium, which they share with American football team Atlanta Falcons, has a capacity of 71,000.
Albeit that usually goes down to 42,500 for soccer matches. Their record attendance is 73,019 for the MLS Cup title match between United and Portland Timbers in 2018, which the hosts won 2-0.
Also, the club is well financed and banked £21 million from the sale of Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron to Newcastle just after that championship game. It was the highest fee paid for an MLS player.
Glass said: “It is a huge club and hugely supported.
“It’s a one-club city as well. “Back home you have places that have a couple of teams but this is very much a one-club city.
“The people of Atlanta support their side very, very well.
“There is the amount of people who come to watch and then you recall that we sold Almiron for, I think, over £20 million.
“The sort of players who are coming to us and seeing an opportunity to do well and represent a big club like this is great.
‘‘There are opportunities for them to further their careers even though they are already at a great club here in Atlanta.
“A difference from back home is it is a new team, just three-four years old. People are still getting to grips with what it means over here to have a football club.
“The way it is built, though, people follow it and they like what they see when they do come to games.
“It has been successful so far as well and I think it is important that is what gets put on the pitch when we do get people back in the stadium.
“They want to see attacking, open
“Any time a Scottish manager does well in another country it is good
football. When the fans come back there will be a desire for them to be part of it again.
“That is an aim for us – to make sure that’s the case.”
Like the Scottish game, the MLS clubs are treading warily through the restrictions which have been imposed by coronavirus.
A home fixture against Nashville kicks things off this weekend but there will be no supporters present, with the US officials targeting an end-of-september return for fans.
Glass explained: “At this moment
there are six games scheduled. We have three home and three away against some fairly local teams.
“I say local but whereas in Scotland and England you would be talking about a bus journey we are talking about a flight to Miami or Orlando.
“If you were to drive it would take seven hours to get to Orlando or 10 or 12 to get to Miami.
“It involves a lot of travel and a lot of travel on the day.
“I believe they (the MLS) are going to expand to the east coast after that.
“There are 12 games or so and that would be the regular Eastern Conference ahead of the play-offs.”
It is a life-changing opportunity for the Morgan Academy FP who was brought up in Fintry in Dundee.
Glass cuts an impressive, thoughtful figure in an interview and you would back him to be a success on Sunday and beyond.
Asked about how he is dealing with the challenge, he said: “It’s been good, actually.
“I’ve had a chance to do some ground work for the game that’s coming up at the weekend.
“I knew the players already. I hadn’t really worked with them but I knew them pretty well from watching them training and being involved in meetings and things.
“I knew what they were capable of and we have seen that from them in training.
“Mine has been a bit of a different journey from that taken by other people but I have picked up a lot of managerial stuff along the way in terms of looking after big numbers of teams and big numbers of people, with all the different personalities.
“Along the way, I have also been able to understand American culture as well, which is important.
“I know the expectations here and I think people will like what they see from my team when they do see it.
“I’m not big on describing management philosophies or stuff like that – I think you start sounding like you are trying to be cleverer than you are.
“As a coach, I try to squeeze as much out the players as they’ve got. I’ve got a great group of players here and I obviously fit into the club’s philosophy or I wouldn’t be here in the first place.”