Soccer News: Indy Eleven Relieves Head Coach Juergen Sommer and Assistant Coach Paul Telfer of Coaching Duties
Indy Eleven Professional Soccer made several changes to its technical staff, announcing that former assistant coach Tim Regan will take over the club’s head coach and director of soccer operations roles on an interim basis after relieving Juergen Sommer of those same duties. In addition, assistant coach Paul Telfer was released from the club’s technical staff and will be replaced on the bench by midfielder Kleberson in an interim role as he recovers from recent Achilles tendon surgery.
“This is a tough day for Indy Eleven, especially because Juergen Sommer is a man with tremendous character and professionalism,” said Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir. “I will continue to have a great amount of respect and support for Juergen, as nothing less is deserved following the contributions he made to the organization and the local soccer community that he cares about so deeply over these last two years.”
“While decisions like this are never easy for the individuals or the club involved, I felt changes were needed immediately to impact the direction of the team on the field,” Wilt stated. “I believe Tim Regan has earned the right to implement those changes and I look forward to helping him in every way possible to achieve the winning results our fans deserve. Promoting Tim on an interim basis allows him the opportunity to earn the position going forward, while also providing us with the opportunity to assess any other coaching options.”
“It’s incredibly hard to have to let go two great individuals in Juergen Sommer and Paul Telfer, especially in the case of Juergen after he did so much over the last two years to help build the club on and off the field,” continued Wilt. “On behalf of everyone at the club, I thank them both for their professionalism and efforts to help bring Indy Eleven to where it is today.”
The 33-year-old Regan officially joined Indy Eleven as the team’s first assistant coach on Nov. 11, 2013.
“Juergen Sommer brought me to Indianapolis to help with this project, and I thank him for the opportunity to join this club. I am also grateful for the time spent with him and Paul Telfer as every day was a learning experience,” said Regan. “The challenge with the team remains the same – to improve our performances and get results in a talent-filled NASL. Kleberson and I will do the best we can to bring more success for the club and its tremendous fan base.”
Regan brings impressive experience on the field and the sidelines with him to Indy Eleven’s interim head coaching role. The Orland Hills, Illinois native enjoyed a decorated four-year career at Bradley University before being selected in the second round of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars, which at the time was under the direction of future United States and Egyptian National Team coach Bob Bradley – the first coach hired by Wilt during his tenure with MLS’ Chicago Fire. Regan would appear in 81 regular season contests across six seasons in North America’s top flight with MetroStars (2003-05), Chivas USA (2006), New York Red Bulls (2007) and Toronto FC (2008).
Regan’s primary role with Toronto FC in 2008 was as the team’s Chief Scout, a role he kept until 2011. Concurrent to that position, Regan also worked with U.S. Soccer as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-17, U-18 & U-20 National Teams, eventually parlaying that into a Technical Advisor role with the Federation in 2011. Prior to joining Indy Eleven a little more than 18 months ago, Regan’s most recent role was with St. Louis Scott Gallagher, where he served as the famed youth club’s Development Academy Director, with duties including coaching the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program’s U-17/18 squad.
The focus of the 35-year-old Kleberson will now shift to the sideline. Today’s transition to the Indy Eleven technical staff comes just three weeks after a torn right Achilles tendon suffered during a training session ended the Brazilian World Cup champion’s season on the field.
“The chance to serve as a coach for the rest of the season while I continue rehabbing is an opportunity I look forward to taking full advantage of,” said Kleberson. “I cannot wait to get to work with Tim and use the experience I have accumulated throughout my career to make the players on this talented roster better individually and as a group.”
Sommer saw his tenure with Indy Eleven end nearly two years after it began, the former U.S. National Team goalkeeper, Indiana University All-American and product of Culver Military Academy officially signing on with the club on June 11, 2013. Sommer guided the “Boys in Blue” to a 7W-13D-15L record in 35 NASL regular season games, which included a 6W-5D-7L run in the 2014 Fall Season that ranked tied for 6th place in the 10-team league and showed improvement from a winless Spring Season (0W-4D-5L). “Indiana’s Team” currently sits at the bottom of the NASL Spring Season standings with a 1W-4D-3L mark and bowed out of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last week after a heart-breaking added extra time defeat to USL side Louisville City FC.
Telfer – the ex-Celtic, Southampton, and Coventry City performer, among others, during his 20-plus year professional career in Europe – joined Indy Eleven in May of 2014. The 43-year-old native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and former teammate of Sommer’s at England’s Luton Town joined the Indy Eleven staff after serving as a guest coach for the squad during its inaugural preseason in spring 2014.
“I wish all at Indy Eleven the utmost success for the future, and I thank Juergen Sommer for allowing me the opportunity to experience soccer here in the United States,” Telfer said.
Indy Eleven will look to reverse its fortunes and stop a four-game winless streak in league play when it resumes its NASL Spring Season schedule in South Florida this Saturday, June 6, against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, live online via ESPN3). The “Boys in Blue” will return home to close out its Spring Season slate a week later on Saturday, June 13, when Indy Eleven will host its Second Annual Indiana Soccer Heritage Night against FC Edmonton, also at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for that contest – and all other remaining Indy Eleven regular season matches at “The Mike” – are available starting at just $10 online at IndyEleven.com, over the phone at 317-685-1100317-685-1100 and in person at the Indy Eleven front office (47 S. Pennsylvania Street, Suite 611) weekdays from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
