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Thursday, December 7, 2006
Wolff to Germany; Klinsmann turns down U.S.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After some concerted work to move to Europe this fall, Stone Mountain’s own Josh Wolff signed with German club 1860 Munich Wednesday, ending a respectable Major League Soccer career in which he scored 59 goals and won a league championship.
Sounds like an Off the Ball field trip may be in the works in the next year. Oh, yes, she and footy compadre Marco Sloquinho, who in his fantasy world takes his meals, mail and ale at the legendary Hofbrauhaus, may just have to go over there and clap for the Wolffman live and in person.
Even though new Kansas City Wizards coach Curt Onalfo offered to keep Wolff after previous management had decided to part ways with the ex-Parkview standout, he said “I’m happy with what I decided.”
The 29-year-old, who’s signed through the 07-08 season, tried out with England’s Derby County, but couldn’t obtain a British work permit, which is usually tied to national team play. He played in just one of the three 2006 World Cup games for the U.S., and he saw scattered action in the run-up to it.
1860 Munich is the “other” major club in the Bavarian city, greatly overshadowed by Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich. Wolff will be playing for ex-German international Stefan Reuter, with the club four points out of promotion territory in the second division.
He probably won’t be making nearly as much as the $400K+ money he was earning in K.C. ”It’s exciting to be where soccer is the dominant sport, whether it’s England, Germany, Holland, wherever.”
The lure will remain, always, for Americans like him.
It also helps to go to a team on the Buddy Plan. One of Wolff’s new teammates is ex-U.S. defender Gregg Berhalter.
Wolff’s fellow Georgian, Clint Mathis, made a complete disaster of his abbreviated stay in Germany. Barring injuries or a totally out-of-character stunt — such as grabbing his crotch in the direction of his coach, a la Clint — Josh ought to have a much more successful sojourn in Deutschland.
This just in, 2:58 p.m.: Klinsmann has withdrawn his name for consideration for the U.S. job. He won’t go into the reasons why, but some of the issues at hand have been compensation and the role of the national team coach in executive issues.
What a big blow for the U.S. Soccer Federation, which has scheduled upcoming friendlies against Denmark and Mexico. Sunil Gulati’s first major move — or second, if you consider his firing of Bruce Arena — doesn’t make him look very good at all.
Who would you turn to now? Not that the American job held much international prestige, but how much has the Klinsmann fiasco — and that’s what you can call it — hurt U.S. chances of getting someone who can advance the national team program?
Updated, 3:35 p.m: SI.com is saying that Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley, the winningest coach in MLS history, will be named interim coach, which could lead to a pernament situation.
