Wilmer Cabrera and Chivas USA

Colorado Rapids assistant coach Wilmer Cabrera has been named head coach of Chivas USA. Cabrera becomes the eighth head coach in franchise history. The 46-year-old will lead his first MLS side. He spent five years as the US Under-17 national team coach and led them to the Round of 16 at the 2009 and 2011 U-17 World Cups before joining the Rapids staff in 2012. Cabrera takes over for Jose Luis Real Casillas who recently left to take over the reins of Chivas Guadalajara.  It's hard to predict what to expect from Cabrera. He inherit a tough situation with a Chivas USA side that has been a mess both on and off the field in recent seasons. The Goats finished last in the Western Conference in 2013 with a 6-20-8 record, their worst campaign since that 4-22-6 in their rookie season, and were also accused of discrimination in a lawsuit by their players and other employees. The club suffered a huge turmoil since owner Jorge Vergara bought the team in August 2012. He fired head coach Robin Fraser and overhauled the roster dumping 14 players
before the season started. Dealing with Vergara will be the bigger challenge for Cabrera. However, Cabrera showed some flashes in his previous stops as he did a nice work there. Chivas has a decent base having one of the best MLS goalkeeper in Dan Kennedy, a good holding midfielder in Oswaldo Minda, and a veteran centre back in Carlos Bocanegra. Cabrera also can count on rising Mexican youngster Erick “Cubo” Torres who scored 7 goals in 15 games. Cabrera’s hiring gives hope but he will need time to produce.