Coaching Options for USMNT
by TerpsAllTheWay on Jun 30, 2010 2:14 AM EDT
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PrintDespite the recent Success of Bob Bradley, Sunil Gulati, President of the U.S. Soccer Federation, believes we are capable of more than just a loss in the Round of 16. In a recent interview Gulati stated:
"The team is capable of more. I think the players know it. I think [Coach] Bob [Bradley] knows it. At that level, we are disappointed we didn't get to play another 90 minutes, at least."
via Steven Goff of The Washington Post
Now those are not really the words you want to hear if you are the current coach and team manager of the United States Men's National Soccer Team. Again the statement Gulati Made is ambivalent, but it seems as though he is already looking ahead to 2014. So if you are Gulati, What are your options for team manager?
Well, let's have a look.
Bob Bradley
I know, I know, you are probably thinking "but his line-up is the reason we lost to Ghana, Why would we keep him?" Well Under coach Bob Bradley the United States Men Soccer team has enjoyed a record of 38-20-8, which is pretty successful. Bob Bradley also enforced the idea that you have to constantly inject youth into your team in order to succeed.
- Coach Bob Bradley led the team on a successful run in the Confederations Cup being crowned Runners-Up.
- We defeated and upset a powerful Spanish team on that same Confederations Cup run.
- The Yanks were also crowned the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions under Bradley's tenure.
- Won Group C over the favored England in this year's World Cup.
Despite losing in the Round of 16, Bob Bradley understands how to cater to American players and understands how to develop them. Although he has had moments of success, Bob Bradley seems to have trouble keeping up with some tactical aspects of the game, he failed to use the same strong line-up and instead chose to start Clark and Findley over Edu and Feilhaber. He also stuck to a very rigid 4-4-2 formation rather than using a 4-3-3 which opened up the offense for the U.S. in the Algeria game.
So what are the chances he stays? Slim
Jürgen Klinsmann
via images.zeit.de
A former Striker for the West German/German national football team. He had a successful international career scoring 47 goals in 108 appearances for the national team. Upon retiring he moved to California where he became Vice President of sports marketing agency working closely with Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Klinsmann was eventually asked to become the coach of the national German team where he revamped the management. He is offensive-oriented coach and as such sought his players based on performance in order to prepare for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. So What does he bring to the table?
- He brings experience in the American market and a focuses on developing youth, not to mention he has a winning attitude.
- He reinvigorated an aging German team and led them to Third place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Focuses on talent and skill rather than pure athleticism and image, offensive-mind could help our strikers (a huge weakness)
So why haven't we hire him yet? Well, we almost did back in 2006, but he removed his name from consideration after Sunil Gulati refused to give him control of his staff. But his name will almost undoubtedly pop up again.
So what are the chances that he is hired? High
José Mourinho
A former Portuguese club player, Mourinho, dissatisfied with his progress as a player, decided to turn to coaching and management; he initially began as an assistant at clubs such as Porto and Barcelona. Mourinho is dedicated to producing nothing but the best teams and has found a winning formula that have provided numerous championships to the majority of the clubs on his resumé. So why should we pick Mourinho? Simple, he is a proven winner and is successful wherever he goes, that type of drive you just can't buy.
- As team manager Porto he won the Portuguese League Cup, Super Cup, UEFA Cup, and the all-important UEFA Champions League.
- As team manager of Chelsea he won the English Premier League Twice, Two FA Cups, and qualified to the Champions League in 2007-2008 where they became Runners-Up, despite stepping down his influence as manager had an effect.
- At F.C. Internazionale Milano he won the Serie A league Twice, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, and this year's UEFA Champions League.
Recently, Mourinho signed to become current team Manager at Real Madrid where he will work with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, etc. The amount of experience he brings to the table is astounding. If he were to become team manager of the National Team he would no doubt have a strong effect on our players. Although he has recently signed with Real he is still a definite possibility considering we have four years to replace Bradley. One quick fact is that his teams have been undefeated at home since 2002 and has a 67.25 winning percentage.
Chances that he is hired in the near future? Moderate
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I don’t see that the issues that kept Klinsi from taking it last time around are suddenly gone. Nor any other non-Yank coach for that matter. While the time may be ripe for someone non-Yank to take it, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
And I have to say that, while others disagree (Ives is the one I’m thinking of, I think), I think Dom or Sigi are quite capable of taking over the reigns. Heck, I’d even be OK with pulling a Mexico and giving it back to Arena. He seems to have done a decent job of taking a wreck of a Galaxy squad and turning them back into a strong team.
Of the three, I lean toward Schmidt.
Thanks for these profiles -- good, factual info on all 3
Now, a question: do you think certain managers do better managing less-talented players, while others do well managing a roster of guys who all think they’re superstars? From what I can tell, Mourinho’s always managed a powerhouse club who’s expected to win their league, or at least get very close, and has probably had lots and lots of money to work with everywhere he’s worked. I guess the U.D. Leiria gig would be the only exception to that. Naturally, he’d be facing a very different situation in the US. Is there any evidence that he can sow a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, or bring on less successful, less talented players and turn them into major contributors or superstars? I’ve read that he did a great deal to hone Sneijder’s game and attitude at AC Milan this past season, but I don’t think that the next USMNT coach will list as their #1 problem, “Figuring out how to hone the game of the superstar attacking midfielder who showed up on my roster.”
Klinsman does seem to have had more on-point experience with the German national team, and he’s already pretty familiar with the US soccer infrastructure. I’d be a lot more confident about him running things than about Mourinho.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
nice post!
I liked that Bradley was always able to have the USA team come back after the 1st half. But that’s really still half a game. We need two full halves.
I liked that Klinsmann pulled himself out when he saw that he wasn’t going to get the support that he needed. That told me that he knew what direction he wanted the USA team to take and he knew what he needed to get it done. The man had a plan.
I did not realize that Sunil Gulati was the one standing in the way of Klinsmann. Hopefully this stint with Bradley has humbled Sunil Gulati so that he knows that he needs to let his head coach do his job and get out of the way.
If Sunil Gulati thinks he’s going to do the coaching and make the decisions for the USA team then we’ll never win because he’s not letting the coach do his job.
Before Bradley was hired, Gulati held talks with former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, who lives in California. Klinsmann withdrew after Major League Soccer refused to guarantee access to players for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa America in 2007.from this AP article
that’s where I just got the impression that MLS teams were saying “no you shan’t have our best players. we need them for OUR games”
Interpreting WHY Klinsmann pulled out really depends on whether Sunil Gulati is so full of himself that he won’t let a coach do his job. Or whether the rest of the soccer clubs need an attitude adjustment about the importance of international competition. Given Coach Bradley’s stunning performance in decisions, I’m more inclined to give Sunil Gulati some benefit of the doubt and not think that he’s like the soccer version of Al Davis (an owner out to destroy his own team with his ego).
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