Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino on Friday wouldn’t say if he was ever interested in managing the U.S. men’s national team because he said no one from U.S. Soccer ever reached out to gauge his interest.
“I can’t feel disappointed for a position that they didn’t think I was a good candidate,” he said.
Martino said he’s heard a reason for the lack of interest may be his lack of English. He said that’s OK because they are in position to choose the qualities of the next manager. The manager’s position has been open for more than a year. Columbus’ Gregg Berhalter reportedly will be named the U.S. manager at the end of the MLS season.
Martino’s resume would seem to be perfect for the U.S. job. He has coached two national teams, Paraguay and Argentina, to great success. He has a history of developing youth, which is crucial because the U.S. has turned over its roster and focused on using younger players under interim manager Dave Sarachan.
Martino declined to exercise an option on his contract with Atlanta United and will leave the club at the end of the season. He reportedly will be the next manager of Mexico. He declined to say Friday what's next for him, other than to lead the Five Stripes in a pivotal game at Toronto on Sunday. If Atlanta United wins, it will clinch the Supporters' Shield, its first trophy since beginning play in 2017.
» More: 6 candidates to replace Gerardo Martino in Atlanta
Asked again if at one point he was interested in coaching the U.S. team, which failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Martino said, “it’s like asking you if you would be interested in working for CNN, but without CNN having ever talked to you. How would you have a comment on that?
“Why am I going to waste time thinking about that if no one from CNN had talked to me?”
Pointed out that Martino likes challenges, he said, “There are a lot of things that I find interesting, but I have more important things to think about than wasting my time thinking about different things that there’s no possibility, that no one has reached out to me about. I’m not going to waste my time thinking about these things.”
About the Author
