Jurgen Klinsmann knew U.S. Soccer was talking to Bruce Arena about replacing him | USMNT

In an exclusive interview with ESPN, former U.S. men’s national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann tells Herculez Gomez he knew former U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati and CEO Dan Flynn were talking to Bruce Arena about replacing him months before Klinsmann’s firing in November 2016. Klinsmann also shares his thoughts on the state of the USMNT, why he considers the CONCACAF Nations League a waste of time and why he thinks U.S. Soccer is prioritizing profits over results.
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[@user-fh8tk4sp2e]

Everything he said here was spot on

[@78bcat]

USA Soccer is beyond dysfunctional...and nothing exemplifies it more than their insecurity in dealing with Klinsman and the status quo he tried to challenge. And now we've regressed into our protectionist MLS-bubble and I have no hope.

[@hurilux41]

Agreed. That’s part of the reason why I personally don’t watch Mexico soccer anymore; inconsistent results, tactics, game plan against inferior opponents (including USMNT) in a meaningless competition while the Mexican fans are extremely prideful of their team claiming to be the king of soccer blindly to get beat up when game is on the line. 5th game during the World Cup for Mexico mean nothing when Mexico hasn’t been consistently playing against world class soccer team.

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

@Lockjaw ..??? and......what does that mean??? The both equally failed in their coaching the US.

[@tonykiavidruizsuarez5612]

@Lockjaw Ecuador 2019 it ' time for a European dt yes

[@balompiebueno8292]

@Lockjaw Politics aside, I'd have to agree with you. When Klinsmann was appointed as coach for the German national team he was constantly criticized for his unorthodox approach. He introduced new training ideas and methods which were either unknown or simply ridiculed. In a country like Germany, you can count on the press wanting to know everything about their national football team. Things only got worse for him after Germany lost exhibition matches against South Korea (3-1), Slovakia (2-0), Turkey (2-1), and Italy (4-1), this last one only three months away from the World Cup on home soil. It got so bad that they were expecting the German team to fail miserably but thankfully he silenced his critics by providing not only respectable results (losing only to and being eliminated by the eventual winners) but also inculcating and displaying some of the most entertaining performances of the tournament. He stepped down as coach at the right time, at a high. Before risking falling out with the German public again. And what was arguably his best move was bringing in tactical genius Joachim Löw, who eventually replaced him and coached Germany's fourth World Cup win eight years later. Klinsmann laid the foundation for success and Löw finally finished what his predecessor had started. One gold medal (and World Cup trophy), one silver medal (EURO 2008), and three semifinals in the eight years since leaving his post isn't a bad record at all. Especially when considering in most cases you're eliminated precisely by the eventual winners of the tournament, whether it's Italy or Spain. It speaks volumes of the positive he had on the team. By the way, Klinsmann also reached semifinals for both of the tournaments he coached Germany through. Enter Bruce Arena with his empty American bravado and rejection of foreign influence. His attitude towards Klinsmann was so rude and dismissive it was almost xenophobic in nature. His insistence on using the old guard and home-based players was pure hubris. It almost seemed he felt he could forever ride on his success of 2002, which by the way he utterly failed to repeat four years later (incidentally the same tournament in which coach Klinsmann was vindicated). And probably also felt he owed a great deal of debt to his veteran players. Klinsmann, on the other hand, caught a lot of flack for dropping the highly-regarded Christian Wörns from the German team. But Klinsmann remained firm in his decisions.

[@ibiscar06]

Finally someone that puts them in their place. But guess what, as long as the U.S. and Mexican teams keep filling up the stadiums, they'll never grow. Money talks...pisses me off to be honest. The world cup will forever be a dream, unless this changes.

[@uprightfossil6673]

Yep. Money before wins... Not a good incentive

[@derekthediversecollector4107]

Yea in other countries you just have the skill you play here in USA you need money for everything and college. Stupid. Ronaldinho turned out so great but he came from a slum and had nothing and he played for Brazil and guess what Brazil has won the most world cups. America is stubborn and thinks their way is the best way. But americas pride will be it's downfall.

[@hurilux41]

Derekthediverse Collector don’t forget Mexican pride too, UGH‼️

[@ibiscar06]

@@kem1233 but Mexico does...

[@isaiahberlin37]

Klinsmann’s Problem was that he constantly spoke hard, uncomfortable truths to the US Soccer and MLS leadership. Fighting with the US God, Landon Donovan, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The biggest problem was that he was ‘Soccer’ arrogant and TOO often turned out to be right! (Not always). German arrogance versus US Soccer arrogance!

[@winstonsmithKadikoy]

You know US soccer is bad when someone with Landon's resume is called a God. In the end Landon was a wet blanket.

[@Awesome30034]

Winston Smith he has the most goals in us soccer history

[@winstonsmithKadikoy]

@@Awesome30034 so what? He scored goals on penalties and weak concacaf sides. Globally he was average at best. What did he accomplish at the club level outside of MLS? His resume sucks when compared with other "god" players. He is absolutely nothing special. To be fair he had some nice world cup moments. It's a joke that is not funny to consider him as something amazing. I love the national team, but we need to be honest.

[@absurdandy4122]

@@winstonsmithKadikoy At the end of the day though, it doesn't matter how a player plays at the club level if you aren't a fan of that club team. He played amazing for the USMNT and that is all that matters.

[@Mojix19]

@@Awesome30034 tied with a superior player.

[@lancestone4409]

Best usmnt manager! They should have kept him!

[@DaddySkiitz1]

Lance Stone milutinovic has been the best had no profesional players got thru the first round beating that famous 94’ Colombia

[@bordaz1]

@@DaddySkiitz1 That's a good point. Bora was an international football specialist.

[@zackydable]

He makes so much sense. It's a very American move for us to move on from him... I imagine that America's team leaders aren't willing to go through the growing pains of playing good teams. And Mexico.... c'mon. You guys should be one of the best in the planet since the culture is so huge there.

[@whyisgamora5435]

^^^^FACTS

[@ibiscar06]

@@whyisgamora5435 sadly Concacaf is in it for the money. As long as the U.S. and Mexican teams fill stadiums on any useless friendly games, here or in Mexico, things won't change.

[@jessecreature8035]

Mexico is one of the big teams, has been. If you mean it should have won a WC, sure don’t necessarily disagree but it is what it is. Mexico’s problems come from lack of illegitimate structure that is held up by mafia, politics, and media. Only recently have they raised the bar to actually ascend from the ceiling cap that they were hitting the past 10years

[@ibiscar06]

@@jessecreature8035 come on bro, apart from the "pacto de caballeros", Concacaf has a lot to blame for as well. The U.S. isn't plagued by the mafia and media, but it is by the same confederation holding them back.

[@uprightfossil6673]

Neither the USA nor Mexico reach the fifth game in the WC enough to be taken seriously. Kinsman just told you so... In other words, don't expect to win that game EVER until you step up your game.

[@maxgrillo8264]

I know him in real life, really good guy!

[@scottpeterson9269]

Kudos to the producer of this interview for having the fire in the background as JK burns USSF

[@dutchymon]

Klinsi helped US beat The Netherlands in the Amsterdam Arena, awesome awesome game one of my favorites ever, thank you!

[@seven92023]

I agree with everything he says. The national team has gone down since they replaced him.

[@mithaqelnemo8137]

He was a great coach for us

[@jthomashair]

Mithaq EL Nemo Until 2018 qualifiers

[@Elpa776]

Sir Cosumar it was his fault us players were lazy asf you can tell they did not care

[@Elpa776]

Wasn’t

[@momhips7131]

@@jthomashair We lost to Mexico by a 90th min winner, and then to Costa Rica away. Then he was fired, after the first two matches of qualifiers, against the 2 other best teams in our region.

[@figofigo7908]

Wrong

[@countryclubbin1016]

Jurgie was the man, he never should've been replaced. Those were the usmnt golden years.

[@riccorich]

TF?

[@aleksf01]

Golden years?

[@aleksf01]

He is what got us in this mess

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

He lost to inferior CONCACAF teams. ie, he got canned. Win the qualifiers and keep your job. It was simple, but he could not do it.

[@jeffhead1803]

The players did him wrong. The moment he said they should play in Europe they turned.

[@DazedAndConfuzing]

This is so important for the US, better competition will make us better. No matter how many gold cups we win down the line, we won't improve until we get consistent minutes against bigger teams

[@user-fh8tk4sp2e]

Juergen would be a phenomenal sporting director/gm. Not sure he is a great coach

[@terrancehall9762]

he was us technical director

[@user-fh8tk4sp2e]

Terrance Hall yes and he did alright there. I don’t think he is a good coach but he has a lot of very good ideas

[@terrancehall9762]

@@user-fh8tk4sp2e he sucked to me....tab did the work.

[@elcochiloco1456]

I disagree. He was always going against the grain with what SUM and MLS wanted.

[@ericpato6632]

We need him back. I believe he would be magnificent with the young team we have

[@afreymiller]

I would take him back as coach tomorrow, flaws and all. Him calling out MLS for being a tinpot league was a refreshing change and something we miss now.

[@jeffhead1803]

Agreed. 100%

[@oyaml1211]

No National team outside of Europe will be able to play friendlies against European teams due to the Euro Nations League. For the US to play the highest level they need to participate in Copa America which USSF refuses to do unless Copa America is done in the US so USSF/SUM can make money. Money over results for USSF.

[@oyaml1211]

@boy14395 USSF/SUM wanted to screw over CONMEBOL with Copa America. Even went as far as asking FIFA if they can change the name of Copa America. USSF/SUM thought they could buy off CONMEBOL and have the Copa America be played in the US every 4 years because of $$$. CONMEBOL didn't like it and neither did they like that USSF wanted to change the name of THEIR tournament that predates the World Cup, so that is why neither US or Mexico are invited back in Copa America. That is why CONMEBOL rather invited Asian countries to participate in their Copa America instead of Mexico and the US.

[@kalashnikov5544]

@@oyaml1211 Good on them for not selling out.

[@williemagana2172]

Man this is real talk.

[@luismartinez5035]

He’s speaking straight facts

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

??? He mocks CONCACAF, but yet could not beat those inferior teams consistently. THAT is what makes no sense.

[@tdipepsi]

I remember back when Klinsman was in charge, a lot of MLS fans where heated because JK didn’t call up any MLS players lol “oh feilhaber is doing well rn” oh don Dwyer is doing well rn” JK didn’t care, he knows EUROPE is where it really is at! And with Americans who get out of their comfort zone who decide not to stay in a non pressure, no relegation/promotion league and decide to play against the best, get chosen first to represent the USA. That’s why it took Mexico a lot of tries to defeat JK’s USA team. Now, it’s the opposite, Belharter keeps calling mainly MLS players and keeps getting clapped by Mexico 😂

[@rlubin9356]

Yep pretty much sums it up and the most humiliating part about it is that we could of had their coach tata martino but instead we chose berhalter thinking it was going to work out better for us. 🤦‍♂️

[@ichigo2012hollowmask]

Exactly. MLS is a joke league and the only MLS players that should be called up are talented u20 MLS kids who have the potential to play in Europe. Kids like Alphonse Davies, Josh Sargent, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams who are in MLS and under 20 are okay to call up for the national team so that they can be inspired to up their game and move to a big boy real league in Europe. But don't call up trash like Jordan Morris, Darring Nagbe, Gyasi Zardes, Bradley, Altidore, Aaron Long, Daniel Lovitz, Wil Trapp etc. and pretend these guys are so good and then watch them be destroyed by Mexico multiple times.

[@davepazz580]

I agree with almost everything except the "non pressure, no relegation/promotion" part because that's ultimately a non issue... the real difference is most Euro clubs have several quality options in almost every position, where MLS does not. The reason the US keeps losing to Mexico the last couple of times is not because they used MLS players, but because Berthalter is insisting the players adopt a new game plan they haven't had to employ in any other facet of their careers. He basically used those Mexico games as learning experiments... and it's obvious senior-level important games should not be a place for such things.

[@davepazz580]

Berthalter did use several Euro-based players this time around... but even if he had used all the ones he could have had, the results would have been much the same.

[@tdipepsi]

DavePazz it’s an issue because these guys aren’t fully playing “professional football” there’s no pressure for them. They don’t get bood by the fans, like Zlatan said, you have to give it your 100% every game, every training not just when you go to playoffs. They also don’t have the pressure players will take your spot if you don’t give it your all

[@shaneweidle8804]

Everything he said was 1000% right.

[@thephenomenalpounslayer4122]

he makes good valid points

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

name one.

[@paulsoxl7739]

@@Arturo-sm1tb 1) European league’s are the best in the world 2) confacaf sucks 3) MLS is a joke for starters troll

[@TroijanSkinhead]

Honest truth

[@hectortorres4738]

Here is a better idea. Why dont USSF stop looking at pay to play players or maybe uhm make it less expensive.

[@ernestoalvarez9045]

SMH 🤦‍♂️ he’s spitting Facts !

[@safespacebear]

I admit, I was hella frustrated to drop the first two in qualifying and the things leaking from the clubhouse made it sound like Klinsmann had lost the team but man I wish he could come back. He's the best football mind we've ever had for a manager.

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

based on what exactly? His admitedly excellent playing career? What did he do at Bayern Munich as a coach?

[@NeonLeonNoel]

The size and location makes it hard for the US and Mexico to get good.

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

???? Say what?

[@Zitolos]

I miss him so much 😭😭😭

[@bryansolano3338]

There's rumors that he's gonna be the new manager for ecuador i hope he does become the new manager for ecuador.

[@bryansolano3338]

@@kem1233 it might though

[@romegrad454]

Telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth but people didn't want to hear it. It's just like growing up playing basketball. You play with the older kids and the adults so you can get better. You have to challenge yourself.

[@vicp1990]

Miss this guy

[@bananana2624]

He was still better than Arena or Berhalter even though he failed at the end

[@riccorich]

Arena got father

[@momhips7131]

He didn't fail, the USSF failed him. The man got out of the group of death in 2014 and we were wondolowski putting his head over the ball away from the quarter finals

[@nycfcawaydays3259]

Where is the full length interview??

[@browntrout2860]

Everything he said was truth!!!! I love this man and they should've never let him go! Best most honest interview ever!!!!

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

He lost games he should have won. Why did he get blown out at home against Mexico and on the road against that minnow (in his view) Costa Rica. He mocks and belittles CONCACAF, but his teams had trouble with these inferior teams... Why is that? is it because Costa Rica played all sorts of European giants in preparation for qualifying? LOL. Right...

[@cesare7101]

They need to start sending kids to play in Europe!

[@kp007006]

It’s 2022 and JK predicted the USMNT staring lineup, man this guy got a bad rap for speaking the truth

[@stevetrejo6953]

Speaking nothing but facts

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Accountability? Did he ever explain why he lost to inferior CONCACAF teams? Is it because we were always playing inferior CONCACAF teams? LOL. He made zero sense to me.

[@tristanedwards7302]

USA lives in a football bubble and they refuse to accept that they have to reach out and embrace the ways of the more successful teams and regions in order to do better. I've watched the MLS a few times and sure you have a few big name signings who are at the end of their career like Ibrahimovic, but the general quality of play is so low. I'm Australian and it's at least as bad as our league, but we have significantly less financial investment and smaller crowds due to lower city/town populations, so the USA doesn't really have an excuse. America is good at sports like basketball and baseball, where there is few other nations that play at a top level and thus less meaningful competition, but they are exposed in football (soccer) because there is so many quality nations.

[@Chudsic]

Tristan Edwards you’re really kidding yourself if you think MLS and A-league are comparable in quality. Massive stretch

[@kalashnikov5544]

@@Chudsic You're right. MLS is trash lol.

[@JAG214]

​@@kalashnikov5544 Your dumb he did not say MLS was trash he said you can not compare the two because to him MLS is better then A-League which it is but that does not mean much because at the end of the day MLS is trash so with that in mind MLS as a whole is no better then A-League

[@kalashnikov5544]

@@JAG214 MLS has plenty of money and they're still trash. STFU. Any nations league from Europe would beat MLS.

[@tristanedwards7302]

@@Chudsic At the very least, when you compare the financial resources available, and the quality of football that is given in return, I think there is an argument there. Keep in mind we have more players in the English League than America do and they came from our league, and Australia is at their worst point for the national team in over 10 years.

[@colinreese]

Masterful answers from The Jürgen

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

What is the solution then? All he did was criticize, but I didn't hear an actual plan. He is the one who lost to inferior CONCACAF teams.

[@coreygarrettpowell]

Klinsmann was the best look for the U.S. I’m so frustrated that the United States doesn’t have a global perspective and approach to bettering its system. The U.S. is to soft. Klinsmann is literally laying out a map on how we can win a World Cup. Best we have had. Bruce is great but Klinsmann understands how to get the results. Just my opinion.

[@edgaryzen4925]

Dang even heading to 2023 after USMNT got knocked out by the Dutch, this interview still show relevancy.

[@rickgarcia3854]

He’s right .

[@grenademau]

Can we please reconsider Jurgen?

[@user-fh8tk4sp2e]

As a gm/technical director but not as a coach.

[@hunts7626]

Good guy though

[@ban-fj2ur]

Very true

[@josefranciscodasilvaeolive674]

It's almost as if everyone has forgotten how the USMNT actually played under this man. Jurgen is one of the greatest players ever. He was a terrible coach however.

[@BP-ne1bl]

lelennyfox34 semifinals

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

THANK YOU JOSE. Not many people grasp this obvious fact about his coaching ability.

[@williegonzales1893]

The best manager the USMNT has ever had!

[@groovemachine307]

In the US it's about making money and nothing more. Jurgen is spot on.

[@cooltu2000]

the greatest us coach of all time

[@Brandon-11]

He speaks the truth.

[@tonykiavidruizsuarez5612]

Good coach

[@phengvue21]

We need him back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@carouselwilly]

He is right

[@tonykiavidruizsuarez5612]

Welcome Ecuador

[@tonykiavidruizsuarez5612]

Ecuador yes

[@fv.3105]

EVERYTHING HE SAID WAS RIGHT ON POINT YOU GOT GOOD PLAYERS PLAYING WITH THE BEST PLAYERS THEY WILL NEVER WIN THE MINDSET IS NOT ON POINT

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

???

[@rustyshakelferg4304]

Need him back

[@NeonLeonNoel]

He avoided the bait to talk about Berhalter.

[@leonardowilson7709]

We should’ve kept klinsmann. Letting him go was a massive mistake.

[@fisterhr]

He warned US Soccer on MLS hurting the national team. He should not only be hired again to coach the USMNT but also have the authority to demand that only players that play in better leagues than the mediocre MLS will get to play for the USMNT!

[@whitelotus6449]

So 100% true

[@codym.4501]

Klinsmann should have stayed

[@hrawad5757]

My dream is to be in the 2022 World Cup. Mock my words we will not be made a fool once again. It’s time to gain respect from the world.

[@aleksf01]

Jurgen, if players have to play in the highest level, why did you keep calling Zardes?

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

EXACTLY........

[@sweetskagurl]

I miss jurgen klinsmann!

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

He is very talkative. I will give you that. If you like coaches who talk a lot.

[@plushycr7266]

Jurgen has a point and I'm a Mexico fan

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

If I was a Mexican fan, I'd want a guy like him back too....so the USA would always be at a disadvantage.

[@UncleHyena]

Klinsmann sounds like Po’s dad from Kung fu Panda

[@gozap51]

Lots of truth there, interesting interview...sadly does not take any responsibility for failing to qualify.

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Correct. Does not take responsbility, therefore his comments are meaningless. He is the one who lost to inferior CONCACAF teams...after he cited the fact that we play too many inferior CONCACAF teams. Not logical.

[@DonatelloBlssd]

He’s the best coach to manage this new generation of yougies coming up, Cárter Vickers, Miazga, Adams, Sargent, McKennie, Steffen, etc

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Based on what? He can talk a big show about his experience in Europe? What actual top competition has he actually won?

[@bretlangholff6123]

The same could be said of the US coaches now. At least he had a great career playing the game

[@nickmerkling8856]

Klinsmann deserves all the credit for doing his best as the USMNT coach the players failed him and they weren’t up to the American standard we crave

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

????? The players failed him? Are you freaking kidding me? Who, Zardes?

[@TimeWithRigo]

To this day I’m still pissed that we fired him

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Why? we were floundering in an inferior region like CONCACAF. He didn't win his games. He was canned. Simple.

[@tonykiavidruizsuarez5612]

Come lead to Ecuador

[@BrutomarsArboleda]

Yeah they went from Guatemala to Guatepeor

[@edwardkelly3280]

Sure he may not be the best tactical manager but I would definitely prefer him over the last three.

[@hoogiesimports]

Bring him back

[@mrsalvy2251]

Literally 3:10 end of convo

[@SaSpursFan]

PREACH! never understood why they fired him bc I am almost 30 and his teams were the best USMNT I have seen in my lifetime. And my concerns were proved right when we didn’t even qualify for Russia. What a joke. The coach we have now is not the answer either. Probably is just a puppet/yes man.

[@davepazz580]

They fired him because he lost the first game of WC qualifying against Mexico at Columbus (something that had never happened before) then followed that game with a blowout loss against Costa Rica... Another underlying reason was *how* they lost those two games... It looked as if Klinnsman was using a new formation where he put several key players outside of their normal positions... and during both games that led to communication problems between the players which led to turnovers right down the middle of the field.

[@volleywonka]

Jürgen makes some good points, but his fallout with Landon Donovan was his undoing.

[@josephpotter7776]

Only cuz Landon had MLS and their writers essentially kill Jurgan on everything he did

[@willemkernkamp6677]

@@josephpotter7776 what do you mean by that, would you elaborate?

[@gargola1887]

Donovan needes to go.. he was already old

[@willemkernkamp6677]

@@gargola1887 He was old, but honestly he deserved a spot nonetheless, his experience alone would have been invaluable. You can't just leave the greatest American player of all time out of the team.

[@superlex611]

@@willemkernkamp6677 but he past his prime

[@josep1918]

Mexico and USA have a huge potential to be power houses in world cups but money talks ☹️

[@Gustarx]

WHY WHY WHY did we fire him!?!!?!?!?!? AHHHH

[@seanfinn1046]

Because we lost at home against Mexico. Doesn't sound like much of a big deal now a days.

[@davepazz580]

Not just because they lost to Mexico... but losing in a venue the US had been previously undefeated against them in. And don't forget the following game... they got blown out in Costa Rica.

[@bradpara]

We panicked

[@c3920]

Why was he fired from USMNT?

[@davepazz580]

Because in the first 2 games of the last qualifying campaign, the US lost to Mexico at home in Columbus (for the first time ever), then went to Costa Rica for the second game and got blown out...

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

@@davepazz580 Finally someone making this simple! Thank you Dave. Jurgen is a ball of excuses and BS.

[@hussainzakir1]

For me it is the arrogance- The US should be begging to play on the same pitch as of any south american team. Football might have a lot of money but it will always be a working class game. You can't get anywhere which a bunch of rich suburban and entitled kids, if US wants to improve they need to get Soccer as popular as Football and Basketball.

[@stevelewis8961]

hussainzakir1 arrogance from who? It’s definitely not the players that arrange the games, it’s the USSF. They are the stubborn ones

[@hussainzakir1]

@@stevelewis8961 Clearly I was referring to the arrogance of the USSF. But thank you for your contribution.

[@uprightfossil6673]

I agree... The arrogance to call the game soccer instead of football or futbol.. The arrogance of getting paid huge amounts of money to hype a losing endeavor.. The arrogance of spewing the nonsense that since this is not our national game losing close ones is good enough.

[@kalashnikov5544]

Hussain is correct. Most football stars like Messi and Cristiano grew up poor.

[@tonykiavidruizsuarez5612]

I hope You gent hired

[@hahandroo]

CONMEBOL does not want Mexico in Copa America no more. Last couple they have only allowed 23 and under players.

[@polyglot8]

Just because he speaks coherently as a pundit doesn't mean he was a good USMNT coach - which he wasn't. 1. The scramble to get passports for random sons of U.S. Servicemen playing in Germany (some with poor English) proved to be disastrous for team cohesion, dividing the team into cliques. In fact this approach had already been tried before, most notably in the 1998 World Cup, where the U.S. finished LAST. 2. The feuding with Landon Donovan was self-defeating. JK was peeved Donovan took a sabbatical, saying, "It doesn't work that way". However, in many sports, like Tennis, Golf, etc. sabbaticals are taken. Just because it's never done in the Bundesliga doesn't mean it's a cardinal sin. JK opted for Aron Johannsson who chose to play for the U.S. instead of Iceland. It turned out he was an unused substitute, so what good was it having him on the bench during the World Cup? Donovan, with his experience, could have been used - especially since Jozy Altidore proved to be out of form (it can happen to anyone). Postcript: The fact that Iceland and not the U.S. qualified for the 2018 World Cup was a kind of poetic justice against Johannsson (sorry for thinking bad thoughts like that)! 3. Klinsmann's lack of tactical acumen was already widely known in Germany during his short, disastrous and abruptly ended stint as coach of Bayern Munich. In Bayern Munich and Germany captain Phillip Lahm's book, „Der feine Unterschied“, he wrote, "After just six to eight weeks, all the players realized that with Klinsmann we were going nowhere. The rest of the season was damage control." Lahm went on to write that, "Klinsmann was all fitness and no tactics. Before every game we players would have to get together among ourselves and decide how we were going to set up and play game at hand."

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

EXACTLY. He was way, way too biased for German based players. To a fault. He is a big talker...people seem to get sucked in to big talkers spouting BS here in the USA, ie..the 2016 election. If you can talk and sound like you make sense, many people think you are a genius and leader. Its all BS

[@tonycortez9873]

Bruce Arena was a big waste of time honestly

[@sierra3daction]

Klinsmann for U.S. Soccer president!

[@user-tl4iy8kt4x]

Wow he’s still incredibly knowledgeable about all our new players too. He seems like a US soccer fan 😂

[@mosesafrane1965]

Michael Jackson He probably knew all of them when they were younger, he talked about going to watch pulisic when he was 15 and bringing him a #10 usmnt jersey as a gesture to make sure he didn’t switch to Croatia.

[@rlubin9356]

He also has a son named Jonathan klinsmann who is a goalkeeper for one of Usa's under team.

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

@@mosesafrane1965 He was never going to Croatia...a suburban kid from Hershey, PA with an All American mother and father? No chance he would ever suit up for Croatia..

[@StylistecS]

The Mexico federation needs to leave SUM and The US federation needs to follow suit. Or vice versus. Then the USMNT needs to work on the product on the field/pitch. The US will remain mediocre with dull atmospheres while getting their asses kicked by the elite and even the above average teams. Nothing Klinnsman said was wrong. Not a thing.

[@user-fh8tk4sp2e]

Lol we should make a drinking game. Every time Juergen in a speech/press conference says learning curve, nasty, Europe, or fitness drink

[@user-fh8tk4sp2e]

For the record I actually like a lot of what he says. This is just a joke so please don’t think I’m hating on Juergen

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

True dat Sebastien. The man is not exactly a humble, unbiased observer. He was also not a great American coach. Or coach at any top level for that matter. His coaching resume is not impressive.

[@Pfahlio]

Re-hire Klinnsman! The only US coach to see the big picture.

[@tomfitzgerald8150]

He was the right fit as a technical director, maybe not as the Head Coach; but leaving Donovan (at least as just a sub and bring the team together) off versus Wondo cost us the Belgium game, that aside his previous track record at the Club and national level was not great and when he was the German head Coach it was "Low" who was the real coach while Jürgen assembled the talent, speaking hard does not make you a leader nor does filling your staff with yes men with cute little diets and low balling your way in to the head coaching job. By the way, who does he coach for since he got fired????

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Donovan vs. Wondo did not cost us the Belgium game. TIm Howard was the only reason the US was even close to Belgium. Lets get real. We were pummelled in that game, and even if Wondo had shot on goal, the crazy giant Belgium keeper with the 30 foot wingspan would have probably saved it anyway.

[@jonlevinson4114]

He just was a poor tactical coach. Excellent judge of talent. Pushed players to succeed. Bad decision on Landon in 2014. Created a huge gap after Jose was hurt

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

CORRECT. One of the worst in-game coaches in world soccer. The Mack Brown of FIFA.

[@blackyoshi6531]

Turkey playing better than mexico and usa right now and they ain't been in a world cup since 2002 where they finished third.

[@MrRapparicio]

Bruce Arena resume is a joke....

[@davepazz580]

Getting to the quarterfinal of a WC is hardly a joke...

[@MrRapparicio]

DavePazz with a golden generation, and lucky on the draw... looser

[@davepazz580]

Still, a result is a result, and he's the only coach to have achieved that... many coaches never have.

[@MrRapparicio]

DavePazz sorry but one result doesn’t represent a legacy or a ticket to success. He is ok for MLS and mediocre when it comes to international soccer.

[@davepazz580]

I'm not saying he's a great coach nor am I saying he should have been chosen after JK... but he at least had accomplished something. Many commentators even said Germany was lucky to have beaten the US in that quarterfinal game.

[@ncdelibra6613]

Make this guy mexicos team couch

[@Javier23gol]

True. US Soccer wasted time on pointless friendlies. Why US keeps playing friendlies against Jamaica every year?

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

So better to play Jamaica and lose in qualifying than in friendlies? LOL. Why did we lose to Jamaica in CONCACAF qualifying? Jurgen did not have an answer for that.

[@figofigo7908]

​@@Arturo-sm1tbjurgen klinsman is clout chaser and not a good coach But he is a good player

[@joker-sn1qh]

Footsports is Soccer!!!

[@jorgebanuelos]

Combine South America and North America this will make these teams better

[@davepazz580]

Logistically not practical...

[@schabbing1]

Should have never parted ways with this guy

[@oswaldo5021]

To be fair we can’t even be consistently good against CONCACAF teams

[@anthonyuccello8450]

He should of managed India or Thailand they aould.of done better than usa

[@jayjimenez305]

Idk what your smoking lol