As an adamant football fan (or as we call in this country “soccer”), I follow International, South American and European club football, and more specifically, I support Arsenal Football Club, and the United States men’s national team (USMNT). I see the recent events regarding the decision to change the USMNT’s coach as not only positive, but vital to ensure the growth and progress of US men’s soccer in the years to come. On July 27th, Bob Bradley was relieved of his duties as USMNT coach, and not twenty-four hours later, Jürgen Klinsmann was named as his replacement. Many pundits and critics alike weighed in immediately—calling the move a reactionary one, due to a string of recent stale performances and unfulfilled expectations. Those same folks added that the decision made by US Soccer Federation President, Sunil Gulati, was clearly a public relations move meant to deflect criticism, and to combat a growing negative momentum around US soccer. While I’d argue that I don’t believe that to be the driving force behind the decision, I’d further add it doesn’t ultimately matter. What is important about the decision to appoint Jürgen Klinsmann as the man to lead US soccer for the next four years is US Soccer’s public admittance that they have taken the USMNT as far as they can on their own, and now they need help if we’re to ever take the next step.
Gulati previously pursued Klinsmann after the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Both times the two sides were said to be unable to agree on unspecified details, commonly believed to be centered on the amount of control given to Klinsmann over US Soccer. This was significant in that the US Soccer Federation’s decision not to relinquish certain amounts of control of the program to Klinsmann showed a pervasive attitude that in many ways characterizes the United States as a country; the belief that through our work ethic, dedication and belief, we can do anything ourselves. Unlike previous attempts for the two sides to come together, this time an agreement was reached. While we’ll never know which side conceded more or the specific details that allowed the deal to get done, two things are very clear: 1) Gulati understands what a crucial time this is in the history of the USMNT and potential progress of soccer in this country, and as such, 2) Gulati was willing to admit, that he and the US Soccer Federation could not grow the team alone beyond this point, without outside help. For the USMNT to take the most crucial step forward a bold and ambitious move was needed, and needed now.
Whether Jurgen Klinsmann is the right man to lead US Soccer into the future isn’t really the fundamental question that should be asked here, but rather what can US soccer realistically hope to be in relation to the rest of the footballing world? What is our maximum potential with all the various historical, cultural and fundamental questions that have been continually asked regarding the sport in this country for some time now? The only way we could endeavor to go from being a respectable and decent national side, to a nation legitimately able to compete for a World Cup title in the future was to take a risk, to swallow a bit of our pride, and go against all our traditional American beliefs and practices of self-reliance, and simply ask for help. We need an unbiased and different perspective on what US soccer needs to progress to the next level. We need new ideas and practices in how to accomplish our ultimate goal. Gulati and US Soccer has ultimately admitted to the world that we need a perspective that only an “outsider” could provide, one with a world class pedigree and the experience of having been the best and already been where we hope to go. Jurgen Klinsmann represents that for US soccer.
How will the players react? Does a new leader even make a difference? Does the American team even have the talent to compete? We’ve got four years to find out.
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