CARSON, Calif. -- Jeff Agoos knows what it takes to win an MLS Cup -- he has five championship rings to prove it. And on Sunday, he is hoping for a sixth title, and first as an executive.
"It's much more nerve-wracking. It's much better to be a player, always," the New York Red Bulls sporting director said. "You are much more directly linked to what you've done. I'd trade it all in to be on the field on Sunday."
Agoos was on the D.C. United team that won the MLS Cup in 1996, 1997 and 1999 and then won two more titles with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and 2003.
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As for which championship is most special, that's like asking Agoos to pick between daughters Violet and Emma.
"You love them all the same, but they're all different," Agoos said. "It would be different in a much different way this time. I think we worry about that on Sunday and if we put out the best effort we can, I'll be happy with the result."
Richie Williams was fortunate to play in four MLS Cup Finals in his eight-year career, winning three titles as a teammate of Agoos' in 1996, 1997 and 1999.
"I'll always remember them all, but I think the second one in '97 was pretty special because we got to play at RFK in front of 60,000 fans," the Red Bulls assistant coach said. "I think that was something special, to win the championship at your home ground."
Unlike Agoos, though, Williams said he isn't nervous because he's been too busy trying to prepare the Red Bulls for Sunday's final against the Columbus Crew.
"I'm excited, but that was me as a player, too," he said. "You prepare as much as you can all week for the game and come the kickoff you're ready to go and anxious to see what happens and you're excited for the guys."
As he looked around an empty Home Depot Center on Saturday afternoon, Williams couldn't help but reminisce about those other championship games.
"I thought back to the days before the finals, the other stadiums we played in, I can remember as a player getting ready for the game," Williams said. "I'm sure tomorrow will be the same thing. Once I'm out here I'll be thinking back to all the finals I was in, how they went."
After being a somewhat surprise winner in 1996, D.C. United was a favorite in each of the next three MLS Cups Williams played in.
"We had a special team, a good group of guys," Williams said. "We were the favorite and we expected to get to get to the final and win."
The goal of those D.C. teams was to make and win the MLS Cup. That wasn't the case with the Cinderella Red Bulls, who just wanted to make the playoffs and go from there.
"You don't get to play in a final all the time," Williams said. "I think it would be great for the organization. We haven't ever been here and no one expected us to be here. We had an up-and-down season, but we did enough to get into the playoffs."
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