Jose Mourinho is very, very cool. My applauds to the author for understanding that the US Soccer, as a whole, needs a strong face, a confident leader, such as Jose Mourinho. However, even if offered a job, I do not think that Jose would move to the US - a country where soccer is such a non-sport, as far as the rest of the country is concerned. Besides, he still has some unfinished business as far as Chelsea is concerned - to conquer Europe. I think the US Soccer Federation needs to concentrate on promoting the sport, as well as building new stadiums so that MLS teams do not have to play on football fields. And, the US team needs a hero - somebody with a little more class and grace than Donovan. Then, when the country is 100% behind the national soccer team - can the Federation lure in big name coaches.
While the Mourinho idea will get the most attention, the absolutely most important point of your article is that the two jobs be seperated.
Its sort of like someone in the NFL being a GM and a coach----unless you get the absolute best person for the dual job, one aspect or the other will suffer. I wouldn't know Timo Liekoski if he walked up and slapped me with his favorite Finnish fish, but I agree wholeheartedly with your article.
I also agree that Hiddink probably had no clue or cared in the least about S. Korea or Australia youth development programs. He probably said "Bring me the players. I'll figure out what we have and what to do with them".
Those are two different jobs there. Sure, it costs big dollars to hire a big coach...but welcome to the big time. A great technical director, though will come (relatively) cheap. Please DO IT RIGHT, SUNIL!!!!!!
Nice piece. It's up to print journos of your stature to hammer Gulati and the Federation. The soccer nuts will back you.
We know it won't come from TV pundits or ESPN unless Wynalda has a slip of the tongue doing color at an MLS game.
Mourinho makes 4 million quid a year at Chelsea and he has the biggest treasure chest in pro ball. Can the US gig tempt him? I don't know. If he doesn't win the CL this year Roman might can him. That's what my mates in SW London tell me.
I think Hiddink and his time in SK are interesting but as we see in today's national team pictures, Dutch coaches are mercenaries. They'll go wherever the biggest paycheck is. Power to them. There were 5 in WC 2006.
Klinsmann, Metsu, Mourinho, Hiddink, Scolari, Wenger (my best mate in NL would have a coronary)all sound good to me. IMO there's no american gaffer that can do the job. That may be harsh but we need more.
Interesting article. USSF should strongly consider hiring different people for the jobs of manager and technical director if the roles are defined as explained. What players and lower level coaches need are honest assessments of their abilities from people with credibilty.
Mourinho is certainly intriguing candidate and he will certainly raise the profile of the national team. There will not be many dull moments. He certainly works hard with the players.
For obvious reasons Klinsmann is the best fit. He has shown that he can utilize American resources successfully. He is also without a job unlike the other coaches such as Mourinho, Scolari, and Rijkaard. However as JT pointed out, US Soccer needs to be bold in its next appointment.
My second choice would be Scolari. He took Portugal to the semis with essentially a team with no forward. Pauletta was not the player he once was. Figo was playing with a tremendous enthusiasm that he hasn't shown in years. Scolari is almost like a 12th player on the field and he knows soccer in Latin America.
Last but not least, I think another important appointment will be someone to help MLS clubs develop youth talent. The Dutch have a very good reputation at this. A big reason for the 2002 run by the US was John O'Brien who was with Ajax at the time.
Mourinho to coach US national team?
Why should him be interested?
For the money? i think the US Soccer federation cannot compete with chelsea under thisa point of view...
For the glory? Mourinho said that his greatest dream is to lead Portugal to win something important.
As a challenge?
Mourinho can be a good coach (even if for me is hugely overrated: with all those great player, to manage chealsea is one of the easiest jobs on earth...), but US are not exactly the most exciting place where work for a Soccer manager...
Ya know Mourinho would be perfect. Problem is I doubt theres even the slightest intrest in coaching the US. But heres why he'd be perfect, his best quality is being able to make the most out of the talent he's given, before the money and galmour at chelseas lets remember he was already Europe's most sucessfull manager, it started at Benfica where he coached the team for I believe 4 months maybe 5, he took them from 6th to 2nd in the league, he did not lose a single match as coach of Benfica the team he grew up supporting, unfortunatly politics and the election of a crooked businessman as president of Benfica meant Jose was out of a job, the next season he took tiny Uniao Leira to 4th place in the league and then what he did at Porto everyone knows..with a small budget won 2 Portuguese titles, a portuguese Cup, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League, I really feel with young players like Dempsey, Eddie Johnson, and Occhi Onyewu, Mourinho could achieve something with them but after Scolari tries to win back the title that eluded him in 04 at Euro 08 Mourinho will take over Portugal and try to build on this years 4th place finish...atleast thats my thinking
Last edited by Benfica10 on July 21st at 11:20 AM.
I think when it comes to get a qualified coach, (even if US could seem a waste to any important european coach) money can speak louder than anything, plus, would be a great challenge to whoever takes the job and if at the end this "coach" reaches the goal, his name it's going to read everywhere and his paycheck will definitely reflect that too, lol.
I don't really know anything about US-based coaches, since I don't follow the MLS. With the exception of the guy who took you to Italia 90 though, I'm going to put my neck on the line and say none of them should manage at international level. If they were any good as coaches, they wouldn't be messing around in the MLS.
Here are my thoughts on a few other potential candidates:
Mourinho- get real! This is never going to happen. Why would a guy who is obviously very ambitious want to work in a team where WC-qualification is practically guaranteed, but realistic expectations once they get there are so limited. Also, why would a guy who is such an egotist want to work in a country where he would be completely off the world's radar. It would kill his career in the long term, changing his profile from being one of the world's most in-demand coaches to just a journey-man international coach-for-sale.
Also, lets remember no amount of money would tempt him, since Abramovic's chelsea have unlimited funds, and the fact that he wants to manage Portugal eventually.
2. Scolari & Rijkaard. Like Again, absolutely no chance. Like Mourinho, this would be professional suicide. Scolari is well known to want to try his hand at a big club after he finishes with Portugal. And why would Rijkaard want to swap a job with the Ronaldinhos and Messis of this world for working with McBrides and Donovans?
3. Klinsmann- a lot more likely. He's based in the US anyway, is enthusiastic about US coaching methods etc etc. The only thing is, I think his appointment would have been more likely if Germany had done BADLY at the world cup. Then he may have been tempted to try and rebuild a reputation in a position with little pressure or chance of failure. Also, its likely that Klinsmann would have had few other options to chose from if he'd done badly at the world cup.
However, because Germany surpassed expectations, I think Klinsmann has possibly put himself in the shop window as a potentially strong manager. Therefore he's probably gonna hold out until a big team make an offer for him to go into club footy.
4. Wenger. I should have included him with Scolari and Rijkard. He's made clear at several points that he wouldn't leave Arsenal for England or France positions while he's still got his Arsenal contract. So he's definitely not going to go to America.
5. Lippi- he's out of contract, and probably the most successful coach in the world right now, having won everything- the WC, the Champs League, Serie A etc. Sounds perfect....only thing is, he doesn't speak English. Also, like the above, I dunno i####uy of his caliber would want to coach the US- he might be more interested to wait and see if Inter####onale, AC Milan or Roma come knocking in the next year or so.
ha, just realised how the auto-censor function has prevented my full spelling of Inter Milan!.
6. Hiddink. Would be absolutely perfect. Proven track record at club level (Ajax and R Madrid I think? Goes back a while now so I can't remember). Proven success at International level in getting good performances out of limited teams- S Korea and Australia. His CV screams out "US coach in waiting!!!" Only problem is that he seems to be going to Russia instead.
7. Erricson. Like the others, I think he's set on a high-profile club position. Also, don't think he's done his reputation any favours with the last WC, and I don't think he has the sort of personality to win over the fans.
8. So, my suggestion....(I warn you its a little left-field)...
a. Decent if not spectacular club record- did really well in establishing Newcastle as a title contender in his time. Took them from the bottom half of the English second division to competing with Man Utd.
b. Attack minded. His Newcastle team was one of the most popular in England amongst neutrals. Certainly not one to sit-out for a one-nil victory. He's admittedly not a tactical mastermind (He thinks defence is something at the end of de-garden), but he's the perfect anecdote to Arena.
c. Personality. The guy is likeable. He's passionate about his football, and relies on motivating players to go out and have fun. He gives funny interviews. He's not cold or arrogant. Fans would like him. Again, contrast with Arena.
d. Hasn't got anything else to do. He's out of work right now, barring a bit of TV work here and there.
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