November 26th, 2007 . 1:18 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

Little would we imagine ten years ago when Oscar Pareja first came to Dallas in exchange for Damian how much he would mean to this franchise.  The stats only tell the surface story and over eight seasons it’s an impressive list; 206 games, 13 goals, 57 assists, 2 team MVPs, 2 Napalm Awards, 1 MLS Best XI, and a storybook goal in his final Dallas game.  Rather I think what we will all truly remember is the leadership, dedication, professionalism, and integrity Pareja brought both on and off the field.  There has never been a classier nor more respected player for this team.  No one has influenced more players in this franchise’s history than Oscar Pareja.

I had a chance to sit down with Pareja a few days before today’s announcement of his departure.  We talked a great deal about tactics, team building, the future of soccer in American, and FC Dallas in general.  He’s never been one to talk about himself, but after a long discussion of FCD and his own future I finally managed to drag a few comments from the player about his own legacy.

I would say that [my legacy] is the passion that the young players have to put into the game, the respect for the game, and the professionalism that they have to have as well… that is what they will need to get to the place they want to go.  I would like the young players to remember of me, that Oscar loves the game, Oscar has a passion for the game, and he had the personal disciple and professionalism. For me that’s what is in soccer.  Talent and the other stuff you can get, but if you don’t have those things you are not going to go anywhere.  I  would like to have been able to say that my legacy was three or four titles, and that’s something that is hard to accept didn’t happen.  But I gave everything I had and I think I am comfortable with that.

After joining The Dallas Burn from the New England Revolution, Pareja played eight seasons from 1998 to 2005 before joining the coaching staff in 2006 under Colin Clarke.  After Clarke was let go, Pareja was at first hesitant to stay and pulled his name from consideration as head coach because he felt he lacked experience and out of a feeling of loyalty to the man who had given him a job.  Pareja eventually agreed to stay on as an assistant when Steve Morrow was named as the next head man.  After one year with Morrow, Pareja has now reached the decision to go his own way.  It’s a decision that he arrived at with some difficulty, one he finally made for several reasons.

I think it’s the moment for me to step aside for two reasons. First we are part of a family, it’s time to go somewhere else or do something else cause I think we have a different philosophy, and I was willing to go and do something else.  The other thing is that this opportunity showed up and the federation offer me a job. With that being the reasons I thought it was a good time to go.

Pareja wouldn’t go into what the philosophical differences were he had with Morrow, and instead talked about generalities.  But as always the class of the man showed through when talking about the situation.  Pareja is a team first individual and he was quick to talk about how much respect he has for Morrow, and how well they worked together.

I have a different philosophy from Steve.  We are different as coaches.  I saw this year as an opportunity to share those differences to help our team.  Are we going to use what you think, what I think?  Obviously if you are the head coach then you are going to make the decision and I am going to back those decisions one hundred percent.  And that’s what happened. I think our philosophies are different and I want to step aside knowing that he knows the game and he knows what he’s doing.  Obviously I respect him a lot.  But I think for the team it’s good that we separate.

Papi, as he is called by most of the FCD community, now moves on to join his good friend Wilmer Cabrera as an assistant coach with the US U17s.  “I know Wilmar well, Wilmar has been a friend. We grew up together in Colombia,” said the former FCD captain.  “We played for the national team together as well.”  The loss of Pareja will be a blow to FCD, not only does Pareja have significant influence on young FCD players, he also has fantastic connections to the South American pipeline of talent.  The timing of this move is perfect for Pareja.  He’s gotten his feet wet as a coach with the team for which he was a integral player, now is it the time to branch out and get more exposure and experience somewhere else.

There is something that is very difficult for a foreign coaches in MLS and that is knowing the systems.  Knowing all the rules that MLS involves.  Knowing the college system, and the problems with then national teams that sometimes are not the same as South America or Europe.  Sometimes with us as foreign coaches we have to find a way to learn daily what is going on here in America.  I think for me going to the under 17 national team is going to open those doors.  I’m going to know the young talent.  I’m going to be around the country watching all those kids.  I’m going to be working as well with other coaches in the Federation.  It’s going to open a lot of doors here to know more about soccer here.  I think it’s good for a coach to know all those things in the states.

You can bet that Pareja and his friend Cabrera have big plans for the U17s.  It’s probably fair to say you will see a major overhaul in the U17 roster and the training methods this next year.  Pareja talked a great deal about this country of ours that he has embraced and it’s potential to be a great soccer country.

I always say that you have to have an identity.  We have an identity in South American.  Different identities as well, cause in Argentina a player is not the same as a Colombian player.  And a Colombian is not the same as a Brazilian.  Obviously we have a lot of differences, but every country has an identity.  I speak with a lot coaches in the states and I say, “What is our identity?” Anybody involved with soccer here can say, “the identity is playing direct cause we are coming from people in England,” or the people say “we have a European style,” or somebody says “We are playing like a South American cause our kids come from a Hispanic background.” 

I say it has to be a mix, and it has to be a blend with an identity. So that when we speak about American soccer and when we speak about our kids, it has to be a mix cause I think this country has that mix, the perfect mix.  I think everybody around the world is going to respect us when they say, “oh that guy, he looks like an American player.”  That means that we have an identity and I’m willing to go that way with the youngsters.

This interest in the young player and the mix of cultures is something that has long carried over for Pareja form the training field to the community.  He’s been involved in Dallas Hispanic community outreach programs from early in his playing days and in the last few years has spearheaded the Oscar Pareja Community Clinic program.  The Clinics are a series of coaching sessions that benefit children in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. A local youth organization is selected to receive free soccer lessons from Pareja and various players. The kids also receive free tickets to a FC Dallas game, a special gift, and the opportunity to meet FC Dallas coaches and players away from Pizza Hut Park.  It’s a project Pareja has a great love for and is looking to continue even after he leaves.

That’s one of the things that at this point hurts me the most to be leaving.  We have a tremendous job with the Hispanic community. We have reached a lot of people there.  We are trying to find a way to continue somehow those programs.  I know Dallas wants to do it, I know FC Dallas wants to keep a continuity to those programs whether I am here or not. Obviously there are a lot of people who can do it as well.  There are a lot of Latin players, or Latin people, who can reach the community and be that bridge.  But I presented to the FC Dallas family my willingness to continue somehow with that job.  Whether it’s presenting a structure to the people or something else, but I want to keep in touch with those programs because it’s been one of the things I’ve been doing since I was in Dallas.  So let’s see if we can find a way to do it.

So have we seen the last of Pareja in Dallas, or does he perhaps harbor a desire to return here some day?  As usual Pareja was reticent to answer out of respect for the current franchise and staff.  But as we talked he warned to the subject and began to express how much he cares for this community.   I believe a part of him will always be here and I fully expect him to return some day.

This is the fragile part of the year to say [I want to return].  It is sensitive right now.  Cause all that I want to do right now is support Steve, and support the FC Dallas program.  That’s what I am doing right now.  Maybe if not Dallas somewhere else.  I want to be around soccer.  I want to be around professional soccer.  But right now with FC Dallas, I want to support Steve whether I am here or not.  I don’t want any of my comments to distract the focus of what FC Dallas is doing.  I always use as a principle in my life of respect.  I respect what FCD is doing.  I would like to get back to Dallas.  I’ve been here for 9 years and I have three Texans at home.  It took a lot of courage for me to step aside. So I would like to get back, yes.  Being a coach or being a salesman.  I can probably get a job. [laughs]  So in the long run I would like to get back here.

And so it ends, for now.  The longest running on the field servant of the club is set to depart after nine years with Dallas.  As he sails off for the betterment of his career I don’t think any of us can harbor ill feelings for his leaving.  Instead think back to all the wonderful memories Pareja has give us over the years.  I for one won’t forget him or the great times I had watching from the stands and press box. 

Few players have ever dealt with me in as forthright and open manner as Pareja has.  It’s truly been both a privilege and an honor to cover FC Dallas during his tenure.  I don’t think it will be the same with him gone.

So for myself, and I hope for all of us, thank you Oscar for nine wonderful years.  May you find your way back to us soon.

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