Jürgen Klinsmann Talking to U.S. Soccer Again?

August 30th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

ESPN started a rumour this weekend, and I can’t help spreading it. Apparently Jürgen Klinsmann has been talking with U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati about replacing Bob Bradley as coach of the U.S. national team. That’s “according to a source with knowledge of the discussions” anyway. As opposed to a source with no knowledge of the discussions.

Side-stepping ESPN’s journalistic integrity like Barry Sanders in his prime (yeah, I made an NFL reference) I’m wondering if this means the most drawn out managerial appointment in the history of international football is about to happen. Klinsmann was the firm favourite to replace Bruce Arena as U.S. coach after the 2006 World Cup, before Bradley was given the job first on an interim basis and then full-time. Bradley’s contract expires in December, and so if Klinsmann really is going to take this job, then now would be the time.

Personally I question Klinsmann’s suitability for the job. Though his Germany did well at the 2006 World Cup, they were absolutely horrible under Klinsmann for the two years leading up to the tournament. There’s even an argument that Klinsmann’s then-assistant Jogi Löw was the real brains behind the operation, and Klinsmann’s subsequent failure as Bayern Munich boss would seem to support that theory.

I’d even argue that Team USA is about to enter a period of very little competitive soccer, much like the two years before the World Cup where Klinsmann struggled. CONCACAF may be about to rejig its World Cup qualifying process, but that still leave the USA semi-idle until World Cup 2014 qualifying starts. It’s not like in South America where there’s the Copa Libertadores 2011 to build towards, or in Europe where Euro 2012 qualifying is about to begin. And no, the Gold Cup doesn’t count.

So is Klinsmann really the man to coach the U.S. through the quite times and then on to World Cup 2014? I say no. But on the other hand, I now 100% want this to happen, if only because when a rumour starts in 2006 and is still being rumoured in 2010, then we may as well just jump in and see what happens.

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http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PYVZADRL5UF3GXYVMMAHS23JFY AEwie23

Explain to me why the Gold Cup doesn't count. It's the region's championship. Just because the level of competition isn't as high as, say, the European Championships doesn't make it any less important for CONCACAF teams. Talk to the U.S. squad from the Confederations Cup and tell them the '07 Gold Cup didn't matter. I suppose you don't count the ANC or the AFC Asian Cup either.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

I wish I agreed with you AEwie23 because I wish the Gold Cup mattered more. But you can't really argue that the Gold Cup is as important to the US as the Euros are to European teams or the Copa America is to South American teams. It just isn't. I support England and the US. If England win the Euros in 2012 I'll celebrate for 72 hours straight. I can't say I'll do the same if/when the US wins the Gold Cup in 2011, and I doubt many US fans will either.

The Gold Cup is what is. And I'll still watch it and enjoy it. But if the best thing about winning a tournament is that you qualify for another tournament, then I'd argue that tournament is not particularly important.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Jean-François Racinet

Oh god anyone except Klinsmann….. Really I would much rather the federation hire an American coach, but I can't think of any that could handle the position.
vNvN

“As opposed to a source with no knowledge of the discussions.” Wait, let me check to see whether we're still talking about modern football…right. Er, yes, actually!

“…then we may as well just jump in and see what happens.” Ah, the signature of a true Englishman. Daryl, I salute you. (The Americans, though, will probably be giving you a different hand gesture in four years' time…)
http://twitter.com/pataliae Natalie Rivlin

Hello

I would like to know if it is ok that I reproduce your article for my dissertation about language usage around the topic of the World Cup?

And is it written by a native English speaker or not?

Regards

Patty