Tony Meola to be named coach of NASL's Jacksonville Armada
National Soccer Hall of Famer Tony Meola will be named the new head coach of the NASL’s Jacksonville Armada on Tuesday, SI.com has learned.
Meola, who made three U.S. World Cup squads as a goalkeeper, replaces Guillermo Hoyos, who was fired in September. Jacksonville finished last in the NASL combined standings in 2015, despite spending more on players than any other team in the league except the champion New York Cosmos. The club's director of player development, Eric Dade, finished the season as interim head coach.
Jacksonville had the third-highest average attendance in the league in 2015 (7,927), behind Indy Eleven (9,809) and Minnesota United (8,767).
Meola was on the U.S. squads at World Cups 1990, 1994 and 2002.
During his 11-year MLS career with the MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards and New York Red Bulls, he won one MLS Cup final in 2000. That year he became the only goalkeeper in MLS history to win the league’s most valuable player award.
Meola has been doing work recently for SiriusXM, Fox Sports and BeIN Sports.
