‘It’s the wild, wild west’: Hutch trying to change the narrative in El Paso

A-Leagues legend John Hutchinson is overseeing drastic change at El Paso Locomotive. As he continues on this club-changing journey in the USL, while juggling the role of technical director, he catches up with KEEPUP’s Sacha Pisani.

John Hutchinson is deep in the heart of Texas, transforming El Paso Locomotive and football in the USL Championship.

It’s a unique challenge for the Central Coast Mariners legend in his first foray into management, not only from a geographical standpoint but footballing wise.

Hutchinson’s principles – based on possession and a high-octane brand of attacking football, developed under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou – go against what El Paso and the USL have grown accustomed to.

To paint a picture, Hutchinson told KEEPUP: “If you sit down and watch the USL, it’s a very transitional counter-attacking league.

“I swear it’s like an athletic meet track where you’re pumping balls and people are sprinting.”

Credit: El Paso Locomotive

Hutchinson is trying to change that narrative with Locomotive.

Locomotive are a club still in their infancy but they have already made an impact in the USL Championship – a tier below MLS in the United States.

Formed in 2018 and playing at Southwest University Park, Locomotive reached back-to-back Conference Finals before falling in the Conference Quarter-finals last season.

But former Yokohama F.Marinos assistant Hutchinson – who worked with Postecoglou in the J1 League – was brought in to build a new identity and the proof is in the numbers.

Twenty-six games into his tenure as head coach and technical director, Locomotive occupy sixth position in the Western Conference – the top seven qualify for the play-offs.

Locomotive lead the entire 27-team USL Championship for passes and passing accuracy, while only five other sides have scored more goals than El Paso (39).

However, transformation comes with growing pains.

El Paso had lost four consecutive games before rallying from three goals down in a wild 4-4 shoot-out over the weekend. Though in the midst of the four-game slump, Locomotive have out-possessed and out-passed their opponents in each of those fixtures. It’s a constant theme throughout the season.

“I took a lot away from Ange and I’m one of the blessed coaches in Australia who’s actually worked with him. He always said stick by what you believe in,” Hutchinson said.

“I’ve always had this belief of attacking football and possession.

“I’m really impressed with the players. They could easily chuck it away and say ‘nah, we don’t want to play like this. We just want to kick it long and chase it too’.”

Credit: El Paso Locomotive

There have been ups and downs in El Paso, but it’s all part of the journey.

“I always believe the hardest thing to teach footballers is the attacking half of the field in terms possession, passing, forward runs,” he said.

“I always feel if you want to sit a low 4-4-2 block, I could get 10 players off the street and in 30 minutes I’ll have them defending in a 4-4-2 low block.

“You might not concede goals and be tough to beat but I want to be tough to beat because we have the ball, I want to be tough to beat because we’re relentlessly attacking.

If you want to play this way, it is a journey and takes time to implement. I came to a club that had an aging squad, we had to rejuvenate it a bit and we’re going to keep it going. I have really good ownership here – my two bosses are very supportive. We’ve changed a lot. The process is still in play.

“You have to fight and play football. Football is for footballers and fans, not coaches. For me, we try to put a product out that is nice on the eye.

“My only concern is I think we’re one of only two or three teams in the whole 27-team USL that try to play this football. You have to stay strong as a manager and a club.

“I understand winning is the most important part of football, I’m not saying it’s not, but I believe what we’re doing here is going to be sustainable for loads of reasons. One, we can sell players into MLS because we’re getting them to play football.

“Two, we can produce better academy players because what we’re trying to produce is renowned around the world instead of kicking and chasing it.

Three, once the players get it and we click, it’s going to be really easy on the eye and that’s what I want to create.

“It’s going to take time and the ownership know that. We obviously want to make play-offs, go as far as we can. We want to try to win it. We want to win every game we play.”

Life in the ‘wild, wild west’

“It’s like no place I’ve ever lived in my whole life,” said 2012-13 A-League Men champion Hutchinson.

Football can take us all kinds of places around the globe. It’s taken Hutchinson to Gosford, Chengdu, Seattle, Malta and Yokohama.

But El Paso stands alone.

Looking out at Juarez from El Paso, Texas. Source: Sacha Pisani

El Paso provides a special experience and backdrop, standing on the Rio Grande across the United States-Mexico border from Ciudad Juarez, which was once known as the most dangerous place – statistically – on earth.

It encapsulates the best of both US and Mexican worlds, with a strong Hispanic culture.

“It’s completely different to anywhere you’ve ever been to,” said the 42-year-old, who lives close to the club’s Westside facility.

Juarez, Mexico – I reckon I could throw a stone and hit some houses driving a long the freeway. I’m still amazed by it. I still drive on the freeway and find myself staring into Mexico. It’s literally just there.

“We see kids playing in the park when we’re driving by. We’ve gone into Mexico with the family. To be able to do that is fantastic.

The border crossing between El Paso and Juarez. Source: Sacha Pisani

“I would never have visited a place like El Paso or lived. When you get opportunities in football, sometimes it takes you to places like this and you have to take it in.”

Negotiating contracts and dealing with agents: His dual role

There are a lot of layers to Hutchinson’s unique life in El Paso.

He isn’t just a head coach but a technical director and with that role comes added responsibilities – budgets, contracts, agents etc.

So what’s it like not just focusing on matters on the pitch?

Credit: El Paso Locomotive

“It’s been a really good learning experience,” he said.

The technical side, it’s an added piece where I like it but it would be something to palm onto someone else. As much as I love negotiating with agents and finding footballers, when it goes a pit pear-shaped that you don’t really like it.

“It becomes difficult because I’m trying to coach a team and get to know my footballers, but then sometimes if negotiations or something haven’t gone well, it’s a difficult spot to be in.

“I’m dealing with budgets and budgets for anything. Dealing with whatever comes my way. It makes for long days but it is exciting in terms of seeing that side but all I want to be is a football coach. I get so much joy in getting on the pitch and training these guys. Game day, I want to see them enjoy themselves. I’m really big on that.

“I’ve had a couple of falling outs with agents but it happens and happens all the time. I don’t want to fall out with anyone but if I have to protect myself and the football club, I’ll protect the football club all the time.

“It’s been a good experience but I would prefer to stick to the football side and coaching, and someone else can take care of some of the other stuff. Still dealing with budgets but that guy might be the bad guy instead of me being the bad guy, and fronting up at training.”