Mike Share's Recent Stateside Interview With Mark Jenkins15 November, 2009

This past Sunday. Mike Share sat down with Stateside's Mark Jenkins for their first interview since Share left America for Spanish team Atlético Andalucía CF, talking about transfer signings and targets as well as preparation for the upcoming season.

Firstly thank you for giving us this opportunity to ask you the following questions about your new club and your time in America. My first obvious question is why did you leave America after such a successful season? Why not stay and build on the great job you did with Buffalo City FC?

You are very welcome, I am always happy to answer any question. My time with Buffalo was very positive and a real learning experience. It was my first full season as head coach in professional football (soccer). It opened my eyes to a lot things that I would have done differently now so I am very grateful to Buffalo and felt I would be at the club for the remainder of my 3 year contract. When I had the opportunity game to come back to Europe it was too difficult to turn it down.

In more depth can you explain to our readers what were the reasons behind you leaving Buffalo and opting to sign with Atlético Andalucía CF?

It was a very difficult decision as I wanted to stay and build on the great season we had. I felt that the players that I signed were a special blend of players. We signed players from all over the world from America, UK, Brazil, Canada and Jamaica, so you can imagine the work that was put in to find such good players. I had already identify certain players for the following season but then when Atlético Andalucía CF approached me with their project I felt that I had to

You have come back to your former club to sign one of your old players. What do you say to the Buffalo fans regarding the rumors that you will raid Buffalo for more oftheir players?

To be honest I still have and will always have a special feeling for the club. It's only normal especially when I only have had only good memories when was at the club. I have recently signed Daniel Waymont from Buffalo. I think it's normal for any head coach or manager to take players with him to his name club. I know Daniel having worked and played with him in America so I know what I will get from him and that's why I signed Waymont.

Are their any other Buffalo City FC players that you are interested in? If so can you name the players that you are interested in?

As I said before I felt that we had several players that could make the grade in Europe. So I am interest in other players from my previous club. Firstly I have work out what my overall budget is and then it will be easier to see what funds I have to take players from overseas to Atlético. I am interested in several players, Marc Stencel, Igor Popovich, Herbert Deleon, Casey Derkacz. I was also interested in Dominic Oppong but saw that Dominic left the club to sign for the New York Astros last month.

As a head coach do you mainly look outside Spain for you transfer targets?

I am currently speaking to several players in Spain and would expect to sign three to four other players before the end of the year. The team should consist of at least half the team being Spanish if not more.

Last season you lost your assistant coach Tom Cordaro before the season started, you said in the press that one of your regrets was not hiring another assistant coach.We have noticed that you have already selected Craig Mander on your coaching staff, can you tell us a bit more about Craig?

Craig is heavily involved with the club not just as a coach but also in other departments at the club. I felt at times that at Buffalo my job was made more difficult then it should have with losing Tom Cordaro early in pre-season. So I wanted to be sure to hire not just an assistant coach but the correct person for the job. Craig Mander is a very capable coach and he will be a real asset to the club not just at a coaching level but also with the experience he has in Spanish football.

Having an assistant coach like Craig Mander does it mean that we will see you more the field of play?

I would expect to play more especially as I can now leave the team in Craig's hands, it makes my job a lot easier. I am sure with the players that we have and our going to sign that we will have enough quality to challenge for the title.

For our last question what are your fondest memories from Buffalo City FC?

That's a difficult question. I had many nice memories from our first league game at Revolution to our come back game against Pocono. I would say the best memories were traveling to away games. In Europe you do not travel 7 hours for away games. The banter when traveling and at the hotelsafter the away games were always great. We had nice bunch of players in our squad who all enjoyed agood laugh. One thing is for sure is the players knew when to have a laugh and when it was time work.

As always thank you for your time and for answering Stateside's question, we are sure with Share's coaching ability that come the end of the 2010-2011 season that the familiar smile we know all so well in America will be even bigger in Spain's sunshine with a bit of silverware.