Erik Soler _ who is the co-owner and board leader of Norway’s IK Start _ is reportedly the leading candidate to be named sporting director for Red Bull New York.

The Washington Post states that the 49-year-old Soler _ who played for Hamburg, the same club that Red Bull director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer played for from 1986-92 and oversaw from 2003 through this June _ is the top choice.

Soler’s IK Start team acquired both ex-Red Bull rightback Hunter Freeman and ex-Dallas player Clarence Goodson. Soler _ who had 39 caps for Norway _ is educated as a psychologist and is has also been a prominent player agent.

Red Bull has also been linked with former Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo and MLS senior VP Nelson Rodriguez as possible candidates. But if the club does hire Soler to work under managing director Erik Stover _ who is more of a businessman than a soccer lifer _ then it implies they are likely to hire a coach with significant MLS experience. At least, one would hope for their sake…

What do you make of this report? Sound like a decent choice? Glad to know that at least Soler and Beiersdorfer would have some common ground to start work from, and to think it’s probable that they’d hire a coach familiar with the league? Richie Williams, anyone? Holla at us….