Ellinger finally resigns...but from what?

Real Salt Lake’s former coach and now former technical director John Ellinger resigned on Tuesday. But that begs the question, what was he doing in the first place?

In May, former MLS player Jason Kreis replaced him as RSL’s head coach after a winless start to 2007, but he was retained as “technical director.” Ellinger’s overall coaching record was a paltry 15-37-16 in over two years with the expansion club. After that, Ellinger presumably traded away Jeff Cunningham and Mehdi Balloucy, and officially wished Freddy Adu well with his new Euopean home. In return, they got Alecko Eskadarian, Kyle Beckerman and a whole lot of salary cap room. But where is the big DP signing that Ellinger promised to deliver? Rumors had idenitifed Jay-Jay Okocha as a candidate, but that has not materialized.

Still, the fans must be happy to be rid of the old man. At least one blogger will have to rename his site, having got his wish. Firejohnellinger.com, an RSL fan site, “dedicated to all RSL fans who keep getting kicked in the nuts by their team,” will have to find a new pariah. Maybe, firejasonkreis.com or hirepeternowak.com or whycantRSLgetadecentdp.com.

RSL managed to beat the MLS champs recently, but Houston was not in top form, having played five matches in 13 days. There only other win came at the expense DC United back in June, that saw Robbie Findley score two in his RSL debut. The Salt Lake is all dried up.