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DEL.ICIO.USArena 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?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Landon Donovan
July 14, 2006 1:58 PM | Link to this
How about not pretending like I’m any good?
By Henry
July 14, 2006 3:26 PM | Link to this
Landon don’t get upset, you just had a bad week. We all had them. Remember this is America, you got to be good all the time or the press and fans get to you. Just be thankfull you were not on the Brasilien team and lived in Brasil. It would have been much worth.
As far as Bruce goes, he new he had a week defense and a none productive ofense, so he went with a strong midfield and as expected it did not work either. Thanks for your efford Bruce. Sadly he was not able to mesh them into a team that wanted to win, like the Aussies.
I am not sure Klinsmann can do much more, where is he going to find the players that will be ready for 2010. Maybe he can look at the youth organization for help and get players that are sitting on the bench because the coach is to jellous of their salary, like Adu, and groom them for eight years from now. Maybe.
Players that play in Belgium, and lesser major league teams in Europe or even in their second divisions bring not much more experience to the national team than the MLS.
Most of the last eight team players in the World Cup played on major European teams.
Get Barcelona, Real Madrid, oh I was going to mention the major Italian teams that will be demoted, Bayren Muenich, ManU, Arsenal, Etc…. to sign American players and play them, than we will have a contender for the World Cup. Untill them lets just be happy of being in the top 20 FIFA list.
Have you heard! The french are chalenging the final in the court. Typical franchies, sore loosers. Like with Armstrong they will drag this out untill the next World Cup. Lucky for us not beating them, that would have been catastrophic.
By Chop Chop
July 14, 2006 4:23 PM | Link to this
If Klinsmann, as stated, has “no interest” at all in the U.S. job, I wonder how much money would be required for him to suddenly find some?
By Chris
July 14, 2006 4:49 PM | Link to this
If the Atlanta Silverbacks would have won this week in the US Open Cup we could have went down to the RE/MAX and heckled Arena in August. That would have been fun.
My Darkhorse Candidate for national team manager is Chris Coleman at Fulham. Klinsman is coming off being a national hero in Germany the US gig would be a little bit of a letdown for him. But as stated the money can be a great changer of perception.
In 2014(Brazil) or 2018(Australia) I think McBride or Reyna will be the national team manager.
As we critique our player developement in the US check out the pessimists in England as they compare their player developement to the work being done on the continent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worldcup2006/teams/england/5148730.stm
By Mark
July 15, 2006 1:08 AM | Link to this
Are we going to get Alves or not? Rafa has to get a RM this year.
By Henry
July 15, 2006 7:46 AM | Link to this
Chris,we have too many other great professinal sports competing with soccer. England and most of Europe have major drug problems, their kids rather get high then go to the sporting fields as my generation did. Lets hope the local soccer organizations start hiring soccer people, just having played on a college team does not make one soccer knowlegeble. Local neutral soccer people must watch our local junior leagues to find the local tallent. One in thousants may make it and are qualified to be on the National Youth Roster. As it is now only certain favored players are considered if they just can kick a ball. South America is getting too prosperous, also the poor people still are sending their children into soccer and still succeding keeping them avay from drugs. Brasilien children still have many heros but they are fading by living it up in Europe. Noticed that almost no caucasians were on the team. Look for Africa and Asia to be the next powers in the future Word Cups. Poverty there is rampant and soccer is their way out of poverty. Sadly only few will be successful.
By chris
July 18, 2006 1:24 PM | Link to this
It appears the US domestic league is outdrawing the Brazilian league. But we are a few years away on the player production. On another international note it is nice to see some justice rendered in Italy. For the first time since Maradona played in Naples the Southern Italian football clubs will have chance. Viva Palermo…
from the BBC:
“Welcome back to the Brazilian Championship. On the first day back last Wednesday a total of 919 turned up to watch Sao Caetano against Botafogo.
They were rewarded with a dreadful game.
President Lula, an avid follower of the game, hit the nail on the head in an interview he gave just before the World Cup.
“Brazil is the biggest producer of great players,” he said. “But in my opinion it’s no longer the country of football. The countries of football nowadays are Spain and Italy, who can buy all the good players on the planet.”
The globalisation of football has robbed countries like Brazil of their best players and congregated the world’s talent in a handful of European leagues. “
By Henry
July 18, 2006 3:26 PM | Link to this
Good Point Chris. Since Pele was made a national asset, depriving him of millions of $ in Europe, Brasil produced great players for the major clubs in Europe. But don’t blame the players for going there, salaries in Brasil for the regular players are like the minimum salary is here in the states. If I were running a MLS team I would be or have someone there to scout for future great player. I would be loosing them to Europe eventually but I would make good proffit on them. Soccer and normal politics are 10 times as bad as here in the US and you find corruption in the administration of the game of soccer in Brasil. They have only themself to blame. As I previously pointed out they will supply great palyers for Europe for a long time. Look to Africa for the future stars in this game.