Chris Henderson thought the transition from midfield to assistant coach would be more difficult. The 1990 World Cup veteran had played in Major League Soccer since its inception before retiring from the New York Red Bulls this offseason to join the Kansas City Wizards technical staff.
“I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Henderson. “I played against every guy in the league last year so I have insight the others coaches might not have.”
Yet it’s not his on-field insights that have the Wizards sparkling after a 4-2 demolition of D.C. United in their season-opener.
“A big part of it was attitude,” said Henderson. “The team from last year, from playing against them, it wasn’t a winning attitude. This year the guys are believing.”
Optimism has infected the entire organization, a dramatic change for an outfit with new owners, led by Neal Patterson and Clifford Illig — a.k.a. OnGoal, LLC — and a new coach, Curt Onalfo, during the offseason.
“They bring in a confidence, a level of having a swagger,” said Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine of Onalfo’s staff. “Their mentality is when we get the opportunity to go at people, let’s go at people. Let’s not try to just hold the ball. Let’s be dangerous. I think that’s the mentality we have at practice.”
No player may benefit more than high-priced striker Eddie Johnson, who was traded to Kansas City from Dallas prior to last year’s World Cup and managed just two goals and a single assist as he struggled to fit in with his new team.
“A lot of people told me it was going to be tough, but mentally, I let a lot of things I couldn’t control kill me,” said Johnson, 23. “I was paying attention to the media. Hearing your own fans say certain things to you, that’s something I’d never dealt with. When you get paid well, people expect you to do things.”
With Onalfo, and others, now in Johnson’s ear, he played a part in all four of the Wizards’ goals against United and could be on the way to matching his league-leading 12 goals in 2004 with another huge season that’s been long expected of him.
“The coaches, the general manager, the owners: they’ve all got our back,” said Johnson. “You can play with confidence when they’ve got your back.”
Wizards of youth
Peter Vermes, technical director, 40
Curt Onalfo, head coach, 37
Chris Henderson, assistant coach, 38
Kris Kelderman, assistant coach, 36
David Tenney, goalkeeping/fitness coach, 36
