Former Minnesota United interim manager Sean McAuley landed as the permanent head coach at Indy Eleven, the USL Championship club said Monday.

McAuley stepped down from his role with the Loons last week to “pursue other opportunities.” Cameron Knowles will be MNUFC’s interim coach going into the 2023 season.

Indy Eleven President and CEO Greg Stremlaw said in a statement: “After an extensive search that produced an unparalleled number of talented candidates from around the world, including a pool from more than 25 countries, we believed Sean’s experience as both a coach and player at the highest levels of soccer in the United States and Europe made him the top choice to lead our club starting in 2024 and beyond.”

It remains unclear if two longtime Loons assistants, goalkeeping coach Stewart Kerr and attacker coach Ian Fuller, will remain with Minnesota United in 2024.

Caldeira back to school

West Virginia attacker Marcus Caldeira, whom the Loons picked 20th in the MLS draft on Dec. 19, has decided he will return to the Mountaineers for his junior season, a source told the Pioneer Press on Monday.

The MLS draft was opened up to sophomores and juniors this year, but if a club picked an underclassman and they stayed in school, the club would retain his rights within MLS.

Alonso retires

Former Loons captain Ozzie Alonso, 37, announced his retirement from soccer Monday.

The Cuban’s arrival in Minnesota before the 2019 season contributed to the Loons making their first MLS Cup Playoff appearance that fall. The bulldog defensive midfielder scored the first goal in the history of Allianz Field and MNUFC made the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the club.

“Absolute legend,” Loons defender Michael Boxall commented on Alonso’s post on Instagram.

After an outstanding career with the Seattle Sounders, Alonso played 61 total MLS matches for the Loons through 2021, before two injury-filled seasons with Atlanta United in 2022-23.

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