Mikey Varas and Olaf MellbergPhotos: MLS Soccer
There will be many fascinating battles and many one on one duels on the pitch.
The two coaches however have interesting tales of their own.
The St Louis coach is the legendary Swedish international Olof Mellberg.
The Gullspång born defender played for many a famous club in his career including AIK Stockholm, Aston Villa, Juventus and Olympiacos.
With 117 caps for Sweden, he is often remebered for a punch-up with Freddie Ljungberg, a man who also played in an MLS club’s debut season. Ljungberg had the last laugh. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Mellberg relinquished his captaincy and Ljungberg took his place as Sweden captain.
He most memorably scored against England in Kiev at the 2012 Euros in a side that also included another MLS legend Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Mikey Varas by contrast only ever played for one club, Santiago Wanderers in Chile. He was hired as the firstever Head Coach on September 16, 2024.
The former FC Dallas and US men’s national team assistant gets his first club head coaching job after briefly serving as USMNT interim manager last year.
Varas also led the US U-20s to a quarterfinal finish at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
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