MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact hope that Frank Klopas has the blend of European style and American know-how theyve been seeking. [url=http://www.wholesaletitansjerseys.com/?tag=youth-harold-landry-jers ey]Youth Harold Landry Jersey[/url] . The club that dominated the first half of the Major League So

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Impact hope that Frank Klopas has the blend of European style and American know-how theyve been seeking. Youth Harold Landry Jersey . The club that dominated the first half of the Major League Soccer season only to come crashing down at the end got its third head coach in as many seasons with the hiring on Wednesday of the Greek-American Klopas. The move made it official that the fiery Marco Schallibaum, whose future was in limbo since the end of the season, would not return. "I dont know whats happened in the past, but my philosophy is I always think long term," said Klopas, who signed a three-year contract as head coach and director of player personnel. "I believe in myself, that I can do a good job. "You go into a coaching situation, you know its based on results. But this is an opportunity I couldnt give up." The Impact had an American rookie head coach in Jesse Marsch in its inaugural MLS campaign in 2012, then went for one with no MLS experience in former Switzerland international fullback Schallibaum. Now the club has a native European with extensive experience in North American soccer. "It gets you thinking its the best of both worlds," said sporting director Nick De Santis. The 47-year-old Klopas, a native of Prosymna, Greece, is a former U.S. international striker who had a 39-29-23 record in three seasons in Chicago. While working as the Fires technical director, he moved in as coach of a 1-4-6 team partway through the 2011 campaign and got them to a 9-9-14 record. The following season, the Fire went 17-11-6 and made the playoffs. However, in 2013 the Fire were 14-13-7 -- the same record as Montreal. But the Impact got the fifth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot over the Fire due to a better goal differential. While Chicago replaced Klopas with Canadian coach Frank Yallop at the end of the season, Montreal chose to delay a decision on Schallibaums future for several weeks. The club insisted the former Switzerland fullbacks status was undecided even as reports swirled of a search for a new coach. The decision was finally made "a couple of days ago," said De Santis. "When a team goes through a difficult phase, but you see a team thats unable to get out of it, it becomes quite difficult," he added. "In the end, we met our goals, which is positive, but we cant hide that it was a team that struggled. "Whether it was physical or mental or the dressing room wasnt there any more, that has to be evaluated. We strongly believed that with our new structure being put in place, with the additions we wanted to add to help us keep growing, we needed to go in a different direction. In the end, it cost Marco his job." He had high praise for Klopas work in Chicago. The Fire were just the opposite of Montreal, starting the season 2-7-1 due partly to injuries and then having one of the leagues best records in the second half. "They were 17 points behind us and they were able to come within a point of making the playoffs," said De Santis. "We have to ask, when were in a difficult time, can we get out of it? Do we have the right people to keep the group together. Frank showed he can do that in the last two years." Klopas said he likes Montreal and has visited friends in the city often over the years. He even remembers the big crowds that once turned out for the Montreal Manic of the old NASL. He promised to try to learn French, as Marsch did in his year with the Impact. Schallibaum spoke several languages. De Santis said having French-speaking personnel is important for the club, but that it is hard to find it in a coach who has MLS experience. Klopas was introduced to the teams supporters at a meeting Wednesday night. "Excited at the opportunity to play for Klopas and get the 2014 campaign underway! Welcome to the .IMFC famille," Impact defender Jeb Brovsky posted on his Twitter account. Bilingual Montreal native Mauro Biello was an option, but the Impact opted to keep him as assistant coach. The second assistant, Frenchman Philippe Eullaffroy, will be back only as director of the Impact Academy. "Mauro will continue to grow," said De Santis. "He can become a great coach and one day, it will be Mauros time to become a great coach here in Montreal. Right now, wed added someone with a lot of credibility and experience who will help us grow as a team." Schallibaum had the team in first place in July, only to plummet sharply in the second half. The Impact was routed by Houston in its first MLS playoff game, finishing the match with nine men after Andres Romero and star forward Marco Di Vaio were sent off. The team also won the Voyageurs Cup by taking the Amway Canadian Championship, although it was then ousted in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Schallibaum was suspended four times for a total of five games for sideline blowups, although he had his temper under control by the end of the season. Few European coaches have found success in MLS. "I dont think a European coach is (necessarily) going to struggle, but a European coach has to do a lot of homework in terms of understanding the league and the players you play against," said De Santis. "This is not a easy league to play in. In Europe, you think of three or four top teams and the other ones are in a mix where there are some easy games. In MLS, I cant even imagine one easy game weve played in." Klopas takes over a team that will be missing 20-goal scorer Di Vaio and Romero to suspensions for the first three games -- March 8 in Dallas, March 15 at Houston and March 22 at home against Seattle. The Fire will visit Olympic Stadium on April 12. Klopas played nine seasons in Greece, winning four championships with Athens club AEK, before joining the Kansas City Wizards for the inaugural MLS campaign in 1996. He moved to Chicago in 1998 and the Fire won both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in the clubs first season. He retired as a player after the 1999 season and worked as a television commentator until he was hired as the Fires technical director in 2008. Klopas said he wont change the teams style of play, but it will need personnel moves to strengthen the defence after the retirement of Alessandro Nesta and to find some help for Di Vaio. He also hopes to bolster the wide positions in the midfield and to get Di Vaio some help up front. "This group has been put together to play a certain way," said Klopas. "Its been a good build-up team through possession, that likes to keep the ball on the ground. "I believe in the same philosophy, the same type of soccer." Goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha and fitness coach Paolo Pacione will also stay on. Director of soccer operations Matt Jordan was promoted to technical director, reporting to De Santis. The Impact open camp on Jan. 27 in Montreal before heading to Florida on Feb. 14 to defend its Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic title. Cheap Titans Jerseys Online .ca. Kerry, In the first period of Saturdays Montreal-Ottawa game, Brendan Gallagher is called for goaltender interference. Craig Anderson is outside the blue paint trying to make the save. Cheap Titans Jerseys Authentic .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. http://www.wholesaletitansjerseys.com/ . The club says its first-choice centre back "underwent medical tests on Wednesday morning" which confirmed he has injured his right hamstring. The injury was caused in the second minute of Tuesdays 4-1 league win over Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou when teammate Sergio Busquets accidentally struck Mascherano just above the knee with an outstretched boot. SUNRISE, Fla. -- Martin St. Louis and the Tampa Bay Lightning have remained on a roll even without star Steven Stamkos. St. Louis had a goal and two assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning extended their winning streak to five games with a 6-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday. St. Louis had an assist on Tyler Johnsons tap-in goal off a wide shot off the boards by Victor Hedman and added another on Valtteri Filppulas power-play goal less than five minutes later for a 3-1 Lightning lead. St. Louis scored his 16th goal of the season when his batted shot eluded Florida goaltender Scott Clemmensen for a 4-1 advantage after two periods. "When (Steven Stamkos) went down, we had that sense of shock, but won some games. Then reality set in. It set in when we went out West," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "Marty went into a little bit of a funk at that time when Stammer was gone. I dont think weve had a better player on our team in the last eight games than (Marty). Hes the captain and hes led the way for us. "Marty has clearly put the team on his back of late." Alex Killorn tied the game for Tampa Bay 19 seconds after Sean Bergenheim gave Florida a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal past Lightning goalie Ben Bishop. "Marty was huge. He opened up the floodgates and made some great plays and scored a pretty nice goal, too," Killorn said. "Hes obviously a leader on our team and we look to him for strong play. He came up huge in the second and everyone kind of followed his lead." The Lightning are 10-2-2 in games when St. Louis has appeared on the scoresheet since Stamkos broke his leg on Nov. 11. "I feel good out there adjusting to new linemates," said St. Louis, who is on a five-game point streak. "Its been fun. The young guys have a lot of energy. When youre winning and contributing, thats a fun feeling. "II definitely took it as a challenge and want to deliver. Youth Dane Cruikshank Jersey. " In his first full season behind the Lightning bench, Cooper has watched his club jump out to a quick start and hold a strong 23-11-3 record despite having Stamkos sidelined. Cooper said the key to beating the Panthers by five goals -- they also beat them 7-2 in the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Oct. 10 -- was the quick answer after the Panthers took the early lead. "It wasnt so much the second (period), it was the answer after they scored. We had a couple of really good penalty kills and made an unfortunate error that ended up in the back of our net. A big turning point for us was scoring on the next shift," Cooper said. "We went into the room 1-1 and we came out flying. It helped to get the 5-on-3. We smelled it. The boys got after it. "Were riding some momentum going into Christmas." Florida coach Peter Horachek was disappointed in his teams effort, especially returning home after going 3-1 on a tough road swing through Canada with wins over Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. "The guys didnt really have a lot of push-back. It was probably the worst game since Ive been here for sure," the interim coach said. NOTES: Florida F Scottie Upshall (upper body) was hurt in the first period and didnt return. ... Tampa Bay D Sami Salo (upper body) left in the second period and didnt return. ... Florida G Tim Thomas remained on the injured reserve (retroactive to Dec. 12) and missed his sixth straight game after being hurt nearly two weeks ago in practice. ... With the win in the teams third meeting, Tampa Bay won the first annual Governors Cup, created during the off-season by Florida Governor Rick Scott. ... Tampa Bay and Florida are both idle through the holiday break before hosting games Saturday -- the Lightning against Montreal, the Panthers playing Detroit. 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