12/03/24
July 14, 2006
Eight is enough: U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced today that after eight years at the helm of the U.S. men's soccer team, manager Bruce Arena's contract will not be renewed. So who will be next to lead the team?
What's next for Team USA Soccer?
posted by chemwizBsquared at 12:36 PM on July 14, 2006
This didn't deserve a FPP of its own, but the new—and supposedly improved—FIFA rankings were released recently and the US fell from their greatly inflated spot at 4 to 16th. I'm sure the new fuzzy math(s) involved in the rankings are just as bad as the previous fuzzy math(s) though.
posted by scully at 01:05 PM on July 14, 2006
And what's next for Bruce Arena? he may end up with the red bulls.
posted by goddam at 01:19 PM on July 14, 2006
Arena would be a great fit in New York. He'd keep some profile while taking a bit of a breather while waiting for the right gig to go somewhere else. I wouldn't expect him to stay long-term. The national team's chips sure seem to be falling at the feet of Jurgen Klinsmann, aren't they? He is suddenly available.
posted by chicobangs at 01:56 PM on July 14, 2006
my vote is for Klinsmann (as the likely one, i don't know who'd be best for it)
posted by markovitch at 02:07 PM on July 14, 2006
honestly, what are the odds Klinsmann would even come to coach USA?
posted by ksb122 at 02:18 PM on July 14, 2006
ksb122: "what are the odds Klinsmann would even come to coach USA?" He lives in California with his American wife. He's already in the US. That's part of the reason why he is such a likely candidate. The other reasons being he is a big subscriber to the so-called American system of training; and that he is available now that he has decided not to continue to coach the German squad.
posted by scully at 02:29 PM on July 14, 2006
Other reasons. He's worked as a consultant with MLS in the past so he is familiar with the US league. He wouldn't face nearly the same amount of scrutiny as he did in Germany (or any other soccer power for that matter), and has attended many US Soccer meetings and the like (picking their brains). On the other hand, he is apparently pretty good friends with Bruce Arena.
posted by trox at 02:33 PM on July 14, 2006
In all honestly, 8 years is too much for such a job. I hope that his replacement (Klinsmann or not) would bring an attacking style to the team and look at players from everywhere, not just certain favorites, as Bruce tended to do over the past year or so.
posted by trox at 02:34 PM on July 14, 2006
agreed, trox. America's style of "play good defense and hope you get a goal or own goal" isn't gonna cut it. Not that it ever did. Attack!
posted by scully at 02:47 PM on July 14, 2006
trox/terrapin: thanks for the info, i wasn't aware of that.
posted by ksb122 at 02:55 PM on July 14, 2006
I guess Lippi is not an option since he said that managing an EPL club is out because he doesn't speak English. Scolari is staying with Portugal. How about Carlos Alberto Parreira? He would certainly bring a more attacking style!
posted by billsaysthis at 04:49 PM on July 14, 2006
I think Klinnsman is ripe for the job too. He turned a mundane German team into one of the most attack-oriented and enjoyable at the World Cup. Germany were very pleasing on the eye. All the things mentioned here are integral. Here's a little nugget from December '05: The headline...in Die Zeit on Dec. 1, read "The Stranger," which also translates as "The Foreigner." The subhead: "His flights (or escapes) to America put people off. His training methods, as well. And he is supposed to bag the World Cup with his players. Who is Jürgen Klinsmann?" Mmmmmmm. I bet humble kraut goes down well.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 05:56 PM on July 14, 2006
Last I heard, polling im Deutchscland suggested that 95% of Germans were in favor of trying to retain Klinsmann at least through the European Championships. Now, could be that that buzz will wear off in the next few months after a very successful World Cup, and the Germans again will be down on Kalifornia Klinsy, but my suspicion is that Juergen is off the market at the moment.
posted by psmealey at 09:22 AM on July 15, 2006
Wow... guess I should have read that article that chicobangs posted. Yeah, if it's true that Klinsmann has already resigned, he's a natural choice, and a good one.
posted by psmealey at 09:25 AM on July 15, 2006
He has already resigned, psmealey, yes and I think he's a natural fit for the US team. He's a big world name and he has an American grounding in his choice of home, wife and MLS past and he turned a nondescript German team into something that even an Englishman could enjoy watching.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:41 AM on July 15, 2006
Remember Germany was not doing so well before the WC came home to them. Mexico even made it to the semi's when it was in Mexico. Klinsmann might not be the answer but he certainly will help the US take the next step. Arena would be a big help with player development. We should use his experience as much as we can.
posted by wc2010 at 01:09 PM on July 15, 2006
One thing that the US team suffered from was inflated expectations. There's been a ton of improvement, and now the Americans are a solid player on the world stage, but they aren't a legitimate WC contender yet, and (and this is important to keep in mind) they won't be in four years. They need more development and a new viewpoint that gives them the chance to move from a top-15 team, where they are now, to a top-5 team, which isn't out of the realm of possibility in eight years, if they do it right. If Klinsmann takes the job, he'll bring with him the opportunity to make that happen. There might be another candidate, but if they order off the menu, USA Soccer had better be right.
posted by chicobangs at 02:57 PM on July 15, 2006
arena is going to the red bulls.
posted by goddam at 12:13 PM on July 18, 2006
And what's next for Bruce Arena? In post-World Cup interviews Arena hinted that he had other options, but what new challenge is available to him? He was successful at the University of Virginia and DC United. And he has also coached the U.S. Under-23 National Team at the 1996 Olympics. Will a European club take a chance on him, or will he return to the MLS?