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CHICAGO - In the early 1980s, Greg Ryan was playing soccer at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park as a member of the NASL's Chicago Sting.
The setting will be much different on Sunday when Ryan, now the head coach of the U.S. Women's national team, leads his side against China in an exhibition at the soccer-specific Toyota Park, in the Chicago suburbs.
Ryan took over the women's team when April Heinrichs resigned in February of 2005. With the women's World Cup almost a year away, Ryan has the responsibility of recreating the 1999 team's success - only without past stars Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.
Q: Can your current group of players reach the same levels of success as the past women's team?
A: Yeah, they are definitely capable of it. They haven't lost in a year and a half - the penalty kick loss to Germany doesn't officially count as a loss. The difference with the past team is they were a group of polished players with 10-15 years of experience. The players I have now are very young, but one of the fun parts of this job is coaching new players.
Q: How did you go from playing in the NASL to coaching the women's game?
A: I was helping out with the men's team at Colorado College (while playing in the NASL) and a friend told me about a job opening with the Wisconsin women's team. There wasn't a pool of quality coaches back then, and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. I had success at Wisconsin and stuck with women's soccer.
Q: Have you ever wanted to coach men's soccer?
A: I enjoy coaching women, but I also feel comfortable coaching men. I used to help out with the men's team at Wisconsin. Still, people associate me with women's soccer. I haven't considered a move to MLS. As for the men's U.S. soccer vacancy, I'm not a candidate.
Q: You began your pro career with the NASL's Tulsa Roughnecks and then were traded to the New York Cosmos. What was it like playing for one of U.S. soccer's most famous teams?
A: Back then, teams were required to play two Americans on the field at a time. I was one of those Americans playing with international guys Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto in front of 20,000-plus fans. It was exciting.
Q: What are your favorite memories of your playing days with the Sting?
A: Chicago had so many great ethnic groups that were passionate about soccer. It was really rewarding when we won the championship (in 1981). People partied and there was a parade. It was a big deal. This was before the Bulls, Bears and White Sox won titles, so at that point, no Chicago team had won a title in a while.
Q: Will there be a championship parade for the women's team after the 2007 World Cup?
A: It won't be easy. The rest of the world is catching up, and now we have to do all we can to push them back down.
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(c) 2006, Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.
