Brian Bliss is moving from one midwestern MLS team to another.
Sporting Kansas City announced Tuesday that they hired Bliss as the club's director of player personnel.
Bliss has been the technical director of the Chicago Fire for the past two years, assuming the role of interim head coach in September when Frank Yallop was fired. It was initially thought that Bliss would be let go during Chicago’s sweeping changes in November, but he was reportedly kept around to help new head coach Veljko Paunovic with his transition.
Before joining the Fire, Bliss served as Columbus Crew SC’s technical director for six years, guiding Crew SC to the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup in his first year in 2008 and finishing his tenure there as the interim coach in 2013.
A defender who suited up for the US national team in the 1990 World Cup, Bliss played for the Crew in MLS's inaugural 1996 season before finishing his playing career in 1998 in Kansas City. He later served as an assistant coach in Kansas City from 2000 to 2006, making Tuesday's move something of a homecoming.
With SKC, Bliss will oversee player personnel matters while assisting in scouting. According to the club, he will also share a player assesment role for USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers and the Sporting KC Academy, reporting to manager and technical director Peter Vermes.
"I'm excited to come back to Kansas City and work for a great organization," Bliss said in a statement. "Sporting KC has made tremendous strides over the last several years, and we have a great opportunity to continue that growth into the future. I look forward to helping Peter and the staff reach their goals and keep the club headed in a positive direction."
