Minnesota United has parted ways with long-time head coach Adrian Heath and technical director Mark Watson, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the dismissals. Minnesota United did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Heath is the only head coach Minnesota United has had since the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2017, a span of nearly seven seasons. Watson was an assistant on Heath’s inaugural staff in 2017 before being promoted to technical director in 2019.
Heath, who finishes with an 81-91-51 record in Minnesota, was the fourth-longest tenured head coach in MLS. He led Minnesota to the playoffs each of the last four years.
Minnesota lost 5-1 to LAFC on Wednesday, has two games remaining in the regular season and sits three points below the playoff line in the Western Conference. The Loons are still mathematically alive for the postseason.
Prior to his time with Minnesota, Heath spent five and a half years at Orlando City, including the first season and a half of the club’s MLS tenure. He then took over in Minnesota after his dismissal. Watson was an assistant on Heath’s staff in Orlando as well.
During his playing days, Heath was a stalwart at Everton where he won two league titles in the 1980s. He also featured for Stoke City, Espanyol, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Burnley.
Watson was head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2013-14. During his playing days, he made 78 appearances for the Canadian national team.
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