After the loss to Argentina in the Copa America, there are large pockets of supporters calling for Jurgen Klinsmann to be sacked. Let’s get one thing set straight here, Klinsmann isn’t the problem. Can the United States get past the idea that they’re the best at every sport, allowing Klinsmann to be successful? Only time will tell.
Jurgen Klinsmann Isn’t The Problem
For as long as anyone can remember, the culture of soccer has been to blame the manager for the shortcomings of the team. This might be the best approach for most cases. However, when it comes to the U.S. Men’s National Team, the USSF needs to tread with serious caution. They need to look at the direction they want American soccer to head after the last kick of the Copa. And, as Sunil Gulati said before the tournament, “we’ll look at everything at the end of this competition”. Now the USA has a chance to get their best ever result at a Copa America. This should not and cannot be understated in the importance of the development of the game in America.
The Consequences of Sacking Klinsmann
The first thing that needs to be said, if Gulati and the USSF decide to sack Klinsmann, is who will they choose to lead the USA into the 2018 World Cup? The upcoming World Cup could be one of the most pivotal moments in USA soccer history, and could easily be the launching point the sport needs to finally gain serious recognition in a nation bent on high speed and violent sports like football and basketball. It’s fairly obvious that a World Cup will gain serious recognition, but after the one in 2014 it has become increasingly obvious that this nation is willing to accept the sport, but just can’t get behind a team that doesn’t win trophies, and that’s where it all goes wrong.
A testament to Klinsmann and the job he’s done is that even someone who has criticized him at every turn, in Landon Donovan, has stated what a tremendous job he’s done. Take a minute and have a listen to an interview that Donovan did after the Argentina match.
A very complimentary @landondonovan rates Jurgen Klinsmann's coaching during #CopaAmerica ahead of #USAvARGhttps://t.co/1epYEq4D7f
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) June 21, 2016
U.S. Scoccer Finances
If you take a look at the financial records of U.S. Soccer for 2014 and 2015, and compare them to the funding that other national teams around the world receive, it starts to become increasingly obvious as to why the sport is hitting a ceiling it can’t break through.
In 2014, USA soccer had total expenses adding up to the amount of just over $70 million, which was then increased to just a little over $93 million the following year. This is a nice boost for the federation, but still not enough to guarantee the appropriate jump in developing the game at the grassroots level. In comparison, the English FA invested $173 million into the development of the sport in 2015, and this is in a nation where soccer is held to a much higher standard, unlike in America where soccer seems to be a sort of afterthought. If the USSF wants to compete at the top international level, the spending needs to be dramatically increased at all levels.
Record in Comparison to Bob Bradley and Bruce Arena
Now, if you’re one of those people saying, “well what about his record as the coach?!”, let’s take a stroll down that lane and compare Klinsmann to the other two long-serving coaches for the national team. First, let’s start with the most recent predecessor, Bob Bradley. Bradley led the USA in the 2010 World Cup and led them to a Round of 16 loss to Ghana. During his tenure, Bradley won the CONCACAF Gold Cup once in 2007. He was also runner-up in 2009 and 2011. Bradley was able to rack up a decent managerial record of 43-12-25. This is good for a .538 winning percentage during his time on the USA bench.
Before Bradley there was Bruce Arena, whom many people consider to be the best manager the nation has had. During his tenure, the USA won the Gold Cup twice, in 2002 and 2005. They also finished in third place in 2003. Arena was also able to accumulate a record of 71-29-30, which is good for a .546 winning percentage.
Now, let’s take the numbers of those two coaches and compare them to the current coach, Jurgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann has managed to win the Gold Cup once, in 2013. In that same year, he was named the CONCACAF Manager of the Year. He has also accumulated a record of 51-14-25. Klinsmann has the highest win percentage of all three mentioned coaches at .567. So what is the problem here?
One Nation, One Team
To be entirely honest, it’s hard to pinpoint one reason as to why the national team supporters seem to call for his head every time a player misplaces a pass or misses a shot, and it surely isn’t helping the nation move forward in indulging in these thoughts of sackings. The USA needs to follow the motto that everyone so proudly shouts when they’re winning, “One Nation, One Team”. They need to show loyalty to the manager that has arguably done the most for soccer in the United States. The supporters need to realize that their mindset is shortsighted and will only hurt the progress the nation has made. Klinsmann is the best option for moving forward.
As for the finances not matching up to that of some of the top nations, that’s a point that needs to be brought to the forefront in defense of Klinsmann. Realistically, it’s hard to be successful and win trophies in a nation that spends roughly half of what the top nations in the world do on the sport. Couple this with the fact that Americans continue to try and brush soccer off as an unimportant sport. As for Klinsmann, if cooler heads prevail in this case, he will stay on as the manager. But, can the USSF ignore the nonsensical shouts for sacking and stay the course? Only time will tell.
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