A recent poll of USL Championship head coaches conducted by Backheeled.comone of the questions posed was which manager in the league is the most underrated.
What is the most popular answer?
Loudoun United FC’s Ryan Martin felt “honored, humbled and very grateful” by the club’s staff when he heard the news.
“Obviously I’m biased for being in the league, but there are some great coaches in the league that I have a lot of respect for,” Martin said this week. Whenever the work you do is recognized by truly talented people, it’s always an honor.”
But this year, head coach Martin is starting to reach his full potential.
Appointed as United head coach midway through his inaugural season, Martin has led the club for the past three-and-a-half years without the autonomy of most of his peers. Last season, through club ownership and his partnership with DC United, he experienced three different his styles of play as the MLS club made changes to the top of his coaching staff.
“Playing like Hernan Lozada in the first half of the season, going 3-5-2 and pressing high, that’s how we’re building our roster,” Martin said. “Then Chad Ashton comes in and then comes Wayne Rooney who wants to do a 4-2-3-1. But we want people to play with less resources and less time.”
Loudoun United’s primary ownership was acquired by Attain Sports & Entertainment this off-season, so it remains connected to DC United as a minority shareholder. But importantly, Martin is now trying to build his own destiny with his own team and ideas.
This is a big change and already seems to be paying off.
“It’s a tremendously different feeling and a huge relief for me,” said Martin. But this year it’s like, ‘OK, Ryan, you can be yourself and develop the team the way you want.
