Brian Bliss – USMNT

A veteran of the 1988 Olympics and 1990 World Cup, injury problems denied MLS fans of the kind of play that made Brian Bliss such a factor with the USMNT and a mainstay for five seasons with Carl Zeiss Jena in the second division of the Bundesliga. 

Bliss served as the Kansas City Wizards interim coach after spending several years as Bob Gansler’s assistant. He spent six seasons as technical director of the Columbus Crew, including serving as interim head coach in 2013. He left the Crew for the technical director role with the Chicago Fire in Dec, 2013. In 2016, he took the director of player personnel role with Sporting Kansas City.

USMNT Experience

1995: Returned to the National Team after limited appearances over two years due to injury.  Earned his last cap on June 25th against Colombia, and a part of the squad that won the Copa America.
1990: Member of the 1990 World Cup squad, coming on as a substitute against Italy.
1989: A key part of the US qualifying run, including a start against Trinidad on Nov. 19th when the US clinched a spot in Italia ’90.
1988: Member of 1988 Olympic squad.
1987: Got his next call-up as part of the squad that played a series of friendlies in South Korea to prepare for the ’88 Olympics.
1984: Earned his first cap against Ecuador on Dec. 2nd. 

Professional Experience

2000: Named Bob Gansler’s assistant with the Kansas City Wizards, a squad that would in that season’s MLS Cup.
1999: First pro coaching job with the Connecticut Wolves.
1998: Picked up in the off season by Kansas City, Bliss would retire early in the season.
1996-97: Member of the Columbus Crew, before being traded to the MetroStars during the ’97 season.
1992-96: Transferred to Carl Zeiss Jena in the second Bundesliga where he would spend five seasons.
1991: Signed with Chemnitzer FC
1987-88: Played with the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Cleveland Force.   

Youth and College: Conference Player of the Year in 1986 for Division II power Southern Connecticut State University.