KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Wilmer Cabrera is debating whether to continue to be the right-hand man of fellow Colombian Oscar Pareja at the Colorado Rapids, or to perhaps become the new head coach of Chivas USA.
The Rapids assistant coach (above, right) told FutbolMLS.com's Kristel Valencia on Friday that Chivas USA have made contact with him regarding their head coaching position, which has been vacant since this past season's interim head coach, José Luis Real, was recalled to Guadalajara last month.
"There was a call to ask if there was interest," Cabrera revealed during Friday's 2014 World Cup draw party at Sporting Park. "They called the club, obviously, to request permission to talk to me and so far there has been no further contact."
Cabrera, whose contract with the Rapids ends on Dec. 31, reaffirmed that his commitment remains with Colorado and friend and countryman Pareja.
"I’m here representing the Colorado Rapids," he continued, "and while I’ll keep doing that, I’ll work with Oscar and look to stay in this great league and look for the necessary results."
A source close to Cabrera told FutbolMLS.com that Colorado have offered him a contract extension, but the former US Under-17 national team coach said he has not yet made a decision.
"We're still in this process, but unless something changes in the next few days, it will remain the same," he said. "There is a decision to make and it will be done soon."
Chivas USA declined to comment when contacted by MLSsoccer.com, but Cabrera would fit the profile of a coach the Goats might be looking for. A native of Cartagena, Colombia, he is a veteran of two World Cups with the Colombian national team, but has made his coaching career entirely in the United States.
He led the US Under-17s into the quarterfinals of both the 2009 and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cups with squads that included many current MLSers, including former Chivas USA striker Juan Agudelo and current Rapids Homegrown midfielder Dillon Serna.
Cabrera, 46, was replaced as U-17 boss in January of 2012 by current head coach Richie Williams, and subsequently joined Pareja's Rapids staff.
