Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Montreal Impact announced on Wednesday that Frank Klopas has been named head coach and director of player personnel on a new three-year contract.
Klopas served as head coach for the Chicago Fire from May 30, 2011 until October 30 of this year. Klopas also served as the technical director of the Fire starting in 2008.
After taking over the team with a 1-4-6 record, he led the Fire to a 9-9-14 record in 2011 and an appearance in the U.S. Open Cup final. In 2012, he led the team to the playoffs with a 17-11-6 record. In 2013, he led the team to a 14-13-7 record missing the playoffs by a single point. He's compiled a career winning record of 39-29-23 in three seasons as head coach in MLS.
As a player, Klopas was a longtime US national team standout and a member of the 1994 World Cup and 1988 Summer Olympic teams. He scored 12 goals in just 39 appearances.
He played nine seasons in his native Greece before returning for MLS's inaugural season in 1996, scoring seven goals in 54 games over two seasons with the Kansas City Wizards. He then joined Chicago Fire to make history by helping the club win both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup trophies in its inaugural season in 1998.
In addition to the hiring of Klopas, the club announced assistant coach Mauro Biello, goalkeeping coach Youssef Dahha and fitness coach Paolo Pacione will remain with the club for 2014.
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