Ives: Osorio to Coach in New York

Ives Galarcep is reporting exclusively on his blog, Soccer by Ives, that the New York Red Bulls have reached an agreement with the Chicago Fire to sign away their head coach, Juan Carlos Osorio.Osorio joined the Fire mid-way through last season and turned the team's fortunes around. The Colombian 'professor' guided the club from the bottom of the league into the conference finals, one win away from an MLS Cup appearance. He was also instrumental in bringing defender Wilman Conde to the Chicago backline from Colombia for a reported $300,000 transfer fee.

Trying to fill the vacancy created when former U.S. national team head coach Bruce Arena stepped down following the end of the disappointing 2007 campaign, the Red Bulls made no secret of their interest in Osorio, but had also interviewed at least one other current MLS head coach, that being Preki from Chivas USA. Also rumored to be on the short-list was former MLS coach, Peter Nowak, currently in charge of the U-23 program.

According to Ives, the deal was sealed when Chicago agreed to a compensation package as part of the deal to let Osorio out of his contract, which had two years remaining.

This will not be Osorio's first go-round in the Big Apple; he was an assistant coach of the then New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2000. Following his time in NY, he became an assistant at Manchester City from 2001-2006, including several years when current Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna donned a Citeh uniform.

Who should be considered to fill Chicago's coaching vacancy? Bruce Arena? Fabio Capello? Jose Mourinho? Someone else?