Technical Director

Former Crew defender Brian Bliss is in his second season as the club’s first-ever Technical Director, having been appointed to the post on Jan. 29, 2008.

The 43-year-old Bliss primarily supports General Manager Mark McCullers and head coach Robert Warzycha and the senior coaching staff in the management of player-personnel matters, player assessment and domestic and international scouting. Additionally, Bliss has a role in the ongoing development of the Crew Soccer Academy program and the Crew’s youth player-development curriculum. A member of the Crew from 1996-97, when he scored two goals in 31 games, Bliss has enjoyed a 21-year career in professional soccer.

A member of the 1990 U.S. World Cup team, Bliss earned 33 caps with the U.S. National Team overall, from 1984-95, tallying two goals. He also played in the 1995 Copa America tournament and represented the U.S. at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. His playing career culminated with Major League Soccer’s first three seasons, where he scored two goals and added a pair of assists in 50 MLS games with the Crew, MetroStars and Wizards from 1996-98.

Bliss, who holds a U.S. Soccer Federation ’A’ Coaching License, began his coaching career in 1999 as head coach of the A-League’s Connecticut Wolves, which he guided to a 22-point improvement that season.

He then returned to Kansas City, where he served as a Wizards assistant coach from 2000-July 2006 and as interim coach from July-Dec. 2006. During his tenure in K.C., the club won MLS Cup and the Supporter’s Shield in 2000 and the 2004 U.S. Open Cup. Following his long tenure with the Wizards, he spent 2007 as the Director of Coaching for the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association.

Prior to MLS, Bliss played for Carl Zeiss Jena (1992-95), Chemnitzer FC (1991-92) and Energie Cottbus (1991) of the German Second Division, Boston Bolts (1990) and Albany Capitals (1989) of the APSL and Cleveland Force of MISL (1987-88). A native of Rochester, N.Y., Bliss played collegiately at Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned a B.S. in Economics. He and his wife, Jacki, were married in Nov. 2002 and have two children, daughter Stella and son Jack.