AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2006 > July > 14
Friday, July 14, 2006
Arena era comes to an end
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Off the Ball’s rehab was going so well this week — with the ongoing buzz over the Zidane headbutting, Liverpool actually signing players who may help them and the resignations of Klinsmann and Lippi — that she was released a day early. And on Bastille Day, too!
Just about the same time she began her blog-release program, in fact, it was announced that Bruce Arena was released from his coaching duties with the U.S. national team.
After eight years, there will be a new coach, and the wording from the USSF is that his contract is not being renewed.
USSF boss Sunil Gulati and other officials met with Arena yesterday near the LaGuardia Aiport in New York, as speculation grows that Arena is about to return to the MLS he’s so maligned as coach of Red Bull, not far from his home stomping ground in Lon Guyland.
Gulati said getting a fresh pair of hands to oversee the program was a major factor; Arena said in a prepared statement he’s ready for a bit of a breather.
None of this should come as a surprise, and we’re still awaiting word on whether Arena wanted to stay on or not. OTB has blogged previously that some of his sharp-elbows comments post-WC about MLS might have sealed his fate, and responses from Gulati were none to thrilled about what was coming out of The Bruce’s grand bouche.
So keen is the need to get moving, just two days after Germany’s Juergen Klinsmann stepped down to return to his California family.
If it is the plan to hire Klinsi, then the timing couldn’t have been better. As one of OTB’s many sharp readers pointed out earlier today, “It better be the plan.”
Now that it’s official, what do you think of the news? Of Arena’s legacy? Of who should be the next coach, and the most logical, realistic objectives for the U.S. program?
