Re: World Cup Soccer XVII: There can only be ONE!!!11!!!
Some of my thoughts.
1. It's time to replace Bradley. Even if someone better isn't available, keeping coaches longer than four years is unusual, even in major soccer nations. The reason is that it doesn't work out that well. Think Marcello Lippi and Bruce Arena.
2. I thought Bob Bradley did a great job. As some of you may remember, four years ago I wasn't pleased with Bradley's selection. I was looking for a better tactical coach. However, the general improvement we made over the four years, the Confederation's Cup run, the wins over Mexico and winning the World Cup group makes Bradley's tenure a success.
3. Klinsmann would be my first choice. I see him as a gift to the US soccer community. How often does a nation just developing as a soccer power have an experienced World Cup coach come to their country to live and contribute? Let's use him. Klinsmann did great with Germany in '06. He struggled at Bayern, but so have a lot of great coaches. It's a tough place to coach, especially for a consensus builder like Klinsmann. Only "My way or the highway" guys succeed at Bayern and we don't need that kind of personality for Team USA. I say give Klinsmann a shot. If things are a mess in two years, we can try someone else, but not giving Klinsmann a shot is like giving back a gift unopened, in my opinion.
4. I would be okay with any of the Schmidt, Yallop, Kinnear crowd. MLS is the big thing in US soccer and any coach that has been successful in the league would probably do fine with the national team. I think Yallop's tenure with the Canadian team would be helpful for him. Schmid would be well respected by the players. Kinnear impressed me at Houston. I think he's had them consistently over perform.
5. I wonder if Roberto Martinez's name will come up in rumors. He presented himself very well and came across as very knowledgeable about the international game in his broadcast role with ESPN this past summer.
6. Carlos Alberto Parreira is probably the biggest available name coach out there. Weren't there rumors that he was interested in the US job when Steve Sampson was hired? I don't think Parreira would be a great fit, but his name will certainly come up.
7. I know it's not time yet, but I suspect Bruce Arena will coach the national team again at some point in the future. He's still the best American born soccer mind we have and he knows the personal. I think his biggest weakness for both club and country is that he is too loyal to aging players and doesn't give new guys the chance to prove themselves.
