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Posted: 2:42 PM- John Ellinger, the deposed coach for Real Salt Lake who stayed on as a technical director and adviser to his replacement, is leaving the team.
Sources said Ellinger plans to resign his position effective Aug. 20, in order to pursue other coaching and development opportunities. An announcement was expected late Tuesday.
Ellinger was the first coach of RSL, having joined the team from his position as the coach of the U.S. Under-17 national team.
Though highly esteemed within the sport for his role in developing such soccer stars as Landon Donovan, Damarcus Beasley and Freddy Adu, the 55-year-old Ellinger never enjoyed much success with RSL, going 15-37-16 before being fired barely a month into this season.
Legendary striker Jason Kreis retired from his playing career with the team to replace Ellinger, and frequently consulted his close friend even while overhauling the roster he had assembled.
Ellinger had accepted his unusual role with the team that fired him as coach in part because of his friendship with Kreis, and recently said he ultimately "got over" most of his hard feelings that stemmed from his firing. However, he still was not willing to watch a recent exhibition game from the same luxury suite at Rice-Eccles Stadium as team owner Dave Checketts.
"I haven't come that far," Ellinger said at the time.