I think that having Klinsmann as coach for the US National team would be a good move. I agree that we need to bring a more offensive menatality to the United States. And it is definitly time for a change in the US, coaching wise. I think that Arena did bring about great changes in 2002, but then in the 2006 World Cup he needed to do a better job with the lineup and the style of play. So Klinsmann would definitly be a great change for the United States Soccer program.

klinsmann needs to stay where he is, he just started getting the german team to where they need to be. i think USA is just so desperate. i think it is disgusting. if klinsmann would have done a bad job, then the US wouldnt be going for him. people in this country dont even care about soccer so why waste a talented coach on a waste of time soccer team.

REISTER, speaking of fickle, I remember everyone in Germany complaining about Klinsmann the entire build-up to the World Cup. Germans had been turning against him throughout qualifying and friendlies. Only now are they heaping praise on him. If Germany hadn't made it to the semi's, then Germans would be calling for his head, like they were before. And they most likely wouldn't have made it to the semifinals if they didn't have home field advantage. So keep your "disgusting" to yourself.

And what is so bad about trying to get the US Soccer Team to where it needs to be? Klinsmann lives in California now and has been involved in the US, so what's so unnatural about Americans hoping to persuade him to be the coach? You sound a little concerned that Klinsmann could leave for the US.

Reister obviously doesn't know how the process works. That is exactly what happens in international football. A coach makes a name for himself by doing well with a young inexperienced team or by putting an emerging football country on the map. Once the reputation is established, such a coach will typically bounce around spending just enough time in a national team post to get them to the next level, then will move on to another.

There are plenty of examples, but take Guus Hiddink. He made his name taking the upstart Korea Republic to the semi-finals in 2002, but just when he got them to that next level, did he stay there for years afterward? No, he did just what the US is asking Klinsman to do. He took the helm of another aspiring football nation, Australia. Look how that worked out. Hiddink brought Australia back to the World cup, had them playing great football, and got them to the second round. And in fact, had them a hair away from beating Italy in that match.

A slightly different example, since it involves much more established programs, but one that still illustrates how these top level coaches more around is Scolari. He was put in charge of Brazil only in 2001. He brought them to Korea/Japan and won the finals. After that, he did not stick around; he waited for the offers to come in from other nations. The offers came and he immediately went to Portugal, and look what happened. He brought them to the semi-finals in Germany.

That is just how it works at this level. A coach's accomplishments do not usually keep him where he is, but rather bring him new offers from other nations. Klinsman is at that point now. He was questioned and criticized. Some actually called for his removal from the Germany post. Now the public has seen the method to his seeming madness and are calling him a visionary for his foresight and accomplishments with the young German squad. This is exactly the point where offers would start coming to Klinsman, and now they are, starting with the US.

The US is not desperate. US Soccer was happy to have Arena at the helm for 8 years, during which time, he helped to bring about a revolution in American soccer. From the debacle of 1998, they went to the quarter-finals in 2002 and qualified again for 2006. As Lisa said, Arena brought US soccer to the world stage, but he won't be the one to take it to the next level. It's only natural to move on at this point, and quite frankly, it's time. Klinsman is just the type of candidate anyone would expect to be offered the post and I would love to see him take it.

He's a damn good coach. Germany should keep him. They are a better team than the US will ever be. Why coach a lousy team, when you can coach a world class team with the talent and traditions that Germany has? Honestly, you couldn't pay me enough to change teams.

That's exactly the point oregon. Coaches at this level distinguish themselves by making teams better, not by taking the easy route and sticking with a team that is already good. It does a lot more for a coach's career, especially a young one like Klinsman to do what he did with Germany's inexperienced team, then prove it wasn't a fluke by moving on and doing the same with another aspiring team. Yes, Germany is a better and more established program than the US. That's obvious, but coaches that want to make a name for themselves and continue to rise on the international scene don't do anything for themselves by playing it safe. If that were the case, Brazil would have the same coach for decades, because they are always one of the best in the world. That is too easy and doesn't say much about the ability of the coach. Most competent coaches can win when they inherit a talented player pool in an established program. Truly gifted coaches will take decent programs and make them contenders. Klinsman would have a good opportunity to do just that with the US.

Heath, that's exactly right. With that way of looking at it, the US is an excellent opportunity, especially since Klinsmann spends a lot of time in California already...that being said, I could understand if he wants to stay with germany his home country.

I fully agree yoyo. Klinsman has all the incentive he needs to stay with Germany now. He's proven his methods to those that questioned him, and now he is back to the hero status among his countrymen that he established as a player. I would be neither surprised, nor blame him if he chose to stay with the German program, though people should see that the opportunity the US poses for him is exactly the type a coach in his position would consider.

So we'll see how ambitious Klinsman really is. Either way, I loved him as a player and he's proven himself as a coach.

Heath is right, so i don't need to say much else! Well said! But just because the US isn't as good as germany, thats why we don't deserve a good coach too?

I think the US has plenty of talent, and more every year. Looking at the team at the World Cup, though, they looked uncertain, indecisive, and disorganized with poor understanding of what the other players were or should be doing, especially in the attacking third. These are EXACTLY the things the coaching staff are responsible for and why we need Klinsmann or someone like him. The German or Dutch styles would work well for the US (with organized team play over one-on-one play) so I'd look for a good German or Dutch coach - preferably Klinsy!

Klinsmann needs the US and the US need Klinsmann. His life is here, and we need a coach with international flare and experience. He knows European style futbol and he knows American style soccer. He has a keen understanding of how the game should be played, and what he see's happening in the budding infant called MLS. He knows it will be a viable force in Premier soccer in the future and he would, as would the US Soccer Federation, be a fool to settle for anything short of coaching the USA through the next World Cup.

And too add, Heath is right on the money! This is just how it works at this level. So come on Jurgen, we're waiting!

Anybody who doesn't want Klinsmann to coach the USA is afraid that this is the coach who will lead the USA to winning the World Cup in 2010 (assuming the refs don't knock the USA out of the World Cup like they did in 2006 and 2002).

Good comments by all, and I would like to second what Bill said above as exactly the reason Klinsman would be an ideal candidate for the US position.

Set aside all the obvious ties between Klinsman and the States (his home, his involvement in the sport here, etc.) and Bill is dead on with the tactical reason for the offer to Klinsman. What are the typical characteristics of the US teams of the past several years? Solid athletes with incredible fitness and work rate. They are not typically the type of players that are flashy and excel at making things happen with individual flare or one on one skills, but have shown they can be competitive through solid team defending. The good results we pick up in international matches are usually low scoring affairs that are characterized by physical play and quality defending and a lack of creativity on the attacking end. Now, where is the US at in terms of player personnel looking forward to 2010? We're at a turnover point with a core of veteran players on their way out and passing the torch to a group of young, arguably more individually talented, but unproven players.

Sound familiar to anyone? It should, because it is exactly where Germany found itself when Klinsman took the helm. Granted the Germans have a much more successful history than the US, but still, they have always been characterized as a defensive team and criticized for their lack of offensive ingenuity. 1-0 matches have been their forte. Klinsman took the German squad, resisted the temptation to hang on to players that were past their prime and brought about a revolution in the style of German soccer. It's really genius when you look at it in retrospect. The timing gave the perfect opportunity to take the younger players that were not as tied to the old style of play, get them at an early point in their professional and international careers and show them a new way to win. The result: A high scoring, stylish, attack oriented team that maintained enough of the defensive discipline it already had to be a well rounded and very dangerous team.

That is exactly what the US team needs, what they were incapable of producing in Germany under Arena, and something that Klinsman might just be able to duplicate if he were to accept the offer.

I just read that Klinsmann has stepped down in Germany. He wants to move back to California with his family and take 6 months before deciding his next move. So...looks like the door could be open.

I think that would be a great move for both Klinnsmann and the US. This move will either make or break at the end but it’s good for the US since it will be a change in the way we play football. Change is good but we’re accustomed to dislike changes, nobody likes to change something they’re used too doing or been doing for so long.

Klinsmann would be a great addition to the US soccer team and if it happens, can’t wait to see them for the friendly matches/qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup.

Klinsmann was a great player & he has shown he was a very good coach for his native country Germany. How the author of this particular story could refer to Klinsmann taking an inexperienced Germany quite far in the world cup is beyond me? There is nothing inexperienced aout Germany's National Team. They have nothing but top quality world class players regardless of their age. Klinsmann will have his work cut out for him if he ends up coaching the Americans. America thinks it can buy success with the offer of money. In reality you can't expect success with sub-par home grown players which America has. Yes of course America could bring in players from other countries but then it would not be an American team. Teams that have won the world cup such as Italy, Germany, Brazil, & England have won it with their own native players & that's a fact! Will Klinsmann as coach make the American team a better team? Of course he will. Will he win them the world cup? Not a chance. America will never be a world power in soccer. America needs to stop trying to buy their way into soccer to become a world power & start learning how to play the game!

Not to spur an argument, because I don't disagree on some points you make, but I don't see why trying to sign a top quality coach has to be seen as an attempt at buying success. It's simply necessary if you want to improve. Every other successful national team endeavors to hire a top notch coach as a starting point for improvement. It's not doing anything underhanded or trying to get a quick fix. It is simply recognizing that the program needs improvement and that US soccer needs to invest in player development. That all starts from the top down.

Learning how to play the game? I totally agree, but where do players learn from? From the coaching staff. Hiring a quality coach that has played and coached at the highest levels is the first step toward improving the level of play, because it gives the players someone to learn from and I personally think it's high time that influence comes from someone the likes of Klinsman.

Only unrealistic people think that the Us will suddenly win the World Cup in 2010 if Klinsman accepts the job, but we all know that is pie in the sky. It's not the one missing piece that will transform America instantly into a world power in the sport, but it's a step in the right direction.

One shouldn't begrudge a country for taking steps to improve. Isn't that the goal? No one was critical of Australia, a team with much less World Cup experience than the US, for hiring Hiddink to help them improve and put in a good showing in Germany. Have a coach of his quality vastly helped their style of play and got them out of the group stages in Germany.

It's simply an attempt to improve the program, and I would love to see Klinsman come in and do some of what he did with Germany. Take on the younger players that have talent, but need development and direction. Take a lot of the younger Americans that are working their way up through the European leagues and provide them the experience and direction they need to compete at a higher level.

Klinsman is in a no win situation with Germany, before his 3rd place finish. He was constantly criticized for everything including the fact he resides in the US. The USA team is a challenge, to succeed on the world's greatest stage, we need a coach of Klinsman's stature and talent.

I read all your comments & I can see all your points. Some I agree with & some I don't My real point is the problem with American soccer is not so much the managers they have had but rather the player pool as it's not exactly the best in the world. Let's put it this way they could get God to coach the American team & unless they improve their player pool with top quality players things will not change much for them. I know the truth at times can be a bitter pill to swallow but the American's track record on the world's stage not just in the world cup but all internationals they have played speaks volumes for what I've stated here. Just as an example here ...Say Joe American goes out, hires the best coaches, buys the best gear, trains in the best clubs, & plays at the highest levels to be found against & with the best players in the world. Even after all this if this person does not have the talent, natural born talent to step up then everything he worked for was in vain. There is no real rock solid soccer culture in America except at the youth level. That's reality, that's a fact. If there were America would have already won the world cup a very long time ago. I've said enough, Goodnight!

I completely agree that the player pool is one of the biggest limitations to US Soccer at this point. However, I'll also suggest that one big step to improve that is by the very act of hiring a coach like Klinsman.

The player pool in the US has traditionally been tied to NCAA soccer, Olympic Development Programs and top youth clubs; all of which share a fundamental flaw. Top college programs a great for what they are, but they identify only talented COLLEGE players, which is a huge qualification to place on the player pool you look at. It ignores tons of potentially talented players that may not have the inclination or the opportunities necessary to consider college. ODP programs are highly political and tend to just pull players from well known clubs. This is again another limitation. Top youth clubs in the US are very expensive and elitist, again excluding a large segment of the potential player pool.

The coaches the US has had in the past have largely relied on (and in most cases even been a product of) these systems. Hiring a quality European coach such as Klinsman brings in a completely different perspective on player development and identification, which is exactly what the US needs. Revamping the ODP system, implementing more in the way of youth academies, focusing on youth development, removing the socioeconomic barriers that exclude players from the system... These are the ways to address the lacking player pool, and a European coach is much more likely to embrace these things and stop relying on the flawed system currently in place for player identification. I also would like to see a coach take a closer look at the younger Americans playing abroad for national inclusion rather than being focused on MLS players and only the older well-known European base players. These things and time is what will build the stronger player pool necessary to compete. America is still a very young nation in terms of soccer history. We're really only talking about 30-40 years or so of the sport being really established, versus well over 100 years in Europe. It takes time and foresight.

The US needs that and leadership to be competitive on the world stage and hiring a quality European coach is at least a good step toward beginning to address both.

It's a good step in the right direction but not by any means a solve all solution to American soccer on the international stage. Sure it will improve things to an extent but that's it right now. America will never be what is considered a soccer nation as it's not infused in the mental state or heart of the American public or national team players for that matter. This is one thing overlooked meaning not only do players from Europe & Latin America have much better skills than the Americans but they also have the mental edge as in cultures in Europe & Latin America soccer is put on a Godlike status & these players have that urning desire from the time they start kicking a ball. I was born in Europe, I grew up there, & I played at the Professional level there as well. Over there as in Latin America if a young player is not good enough to be picked up by a professional club by the time he's 15 he is considered simply not good enough. You dn't find that in America & though yes, Klinsmann would be a good coach America can't expect him to turn mere tim into gold.

Great coaches, Great training methods, Money to burn. The USSF has all of this but even players from tiny dirt poor African nations have a stronger player base to choose from. If some of you know American soccer history you can see that the American national team has always had good coaches, just as good as Klinsmann. Klinsmann did well with his native country Germany not only because he was a great player & a good coach but more important because he had a pool of world class players to work with. No coach that has ever coached the American team has had it so good. This is the key to what I've already stated & the major problem with the American team. Their players are just not talented enough. It's totally unrealistic for anybody to pin all their hopes on one person, in this case Klinsmann & expect him to turn it all around as he's only one person & that's what it will take as the American players sure won't do it! Whoever the coach is will only do as well as what he has to work with. It's like driving a Geo- Metro & having the Porche logo all over it complete with the rear spoiler, it's not fooling anyone.

Without a doubt, quality of the player pool is a serious limiting factor and I would never say otherwise, but you have to start somewhere. Hopefully the US can sign Klinsman or someone else of that caliber to help spur more improvement. It's not the single solution, but it's a necessary step in the process. So we're not in disagreement over any of that.

As for US Soccer history and having always had good coaches, as good as Klinsman, I can't agree with you there.

Starting in the mid 1970s (Mainly because the team had a different coach almost every year throughout the 60s and into the 70s and prior to that, other than isolated things like the defeat of England, the sport simply had very little history in the US and no significant player pool at all):

Walter Chyzowych - Only played for teams in the American Soccer League which isn't saying much and only had 3 caps for the US as a player. This is not a resume.

Bob Gansler - Good playing experience, though only for the US at a time when the US was barely on the football map. Coaching experience was limited to college and US youth teams when he was hired to coach the national team. Later proven to be a good coach, but not at all equivalent to Klinsman at the time he had the job.

Bora Milutinovic - The only coach in decades that would make a worthy comparison, and I would agree a quality coach. One who had some decent results with the US I would point out.

Steve Sampson - Playing and coaching experience was limited to college until he became Bora's assistant for a year before taking over for him. Again, nowhere comparable to Klinsman and proved worthless in the position.

Bruce Arena - A quality coach, but very limited playing experience and coached only college and MLS(when it was in it's infancy) before taking the helm of the national team.

So other than Bora, who in past 4 decades really compares to someone like Klinsman? Gordon Jago, because he's British? Yes, he had stints at Millwall and QPR, but not until after coaching the US and then slipped into medicrity coaching indoor soccer(I actually like him because I grew up watching him coach the Dallas Sidekicks). So the fact is, in the past 40 years the only coach to hold the national team postition that I would consider remotely comparable is Bora Milutinovic. Bora did a solid job with what he had to work with.

As you say, the USSF could have a lot of resources at its disposal considering the level of athletics in general, facilities, etc. It should have money to burn, considering the US is such a wealthy country, but in fact doesn't have near the funding that European national teams have. The USSF without a doubt needs reorganization and as you point out, should be making much better use of the resources potentially available to it. A whole lot more needs to be done beyond hiring a coach, but while we're at it, let's at least hire a good one.

Health,

Your one of the more smart people that post here & what I've stated was not a personal attack against you or Americans in gereral so please don;t take my post personal. I agree with you on more points than you might think. Yes! Your right the national program in America does not get all the proper funding but it's because soccer is not, & will not ever be the national sport in America. As for Klinsmann was he a great player? I think yes. He was a top level, world class player. Germany did pretty well in the world cup now is it beacuse Klinsmann was such a great coach? I think not. As I mentioned look at the players he had to work with. Everyone of them is world class, even the youngest one's. They made his job much easier. Would Klinsmann do as well coaching a far weaker team from a nation that is not known as a contender with world class players? The answer is no!In America people have so many choices & avenues to choose from. If something does not work for them, no problem! They just jump into something else as they have so many choices to choose from & this is part of the problem with soccer there. As you know I played professional. I was signed at age 15 & this is in Europe which is normal. In Europe & Latin America players that are lucky enough to become professional have reached that level for their talent & also drive. They eat, drink, & breathe soccer 247. For many players it's their only way to live a decent life even though most people in Europe & Latin America are far better educated that anywhere in the world. It's just more difficult to live a decent life there as the various cultures place much more demands on people. My wife is Russian & only 25. My wife already had a Doctorate degree & was working in 4 different embassies before I met her in charge of translations in the consular wings as a director & all this at 25. Kind of makes me feel a little stupid even though I have a lot of education myself. You might ask, ok Rasputin, what does this have to do with soccer & the American national team. My answer is quite a lot actually. It comes down to mindset & becoming very mature at a much younger age. This is where the Europeans & Latin Americans have the edge on Americans in soccer.Getting back to Germany they too have had many coaches & many of their coaches have been very good coaches indeed. Most important if you think about it Germany has always done well in the various world cups regardless of who was coaching them. They have won it 3 times & if I'm correct made it to the final game more than any other nation. It's because they are a soccer nation with players that do little else than play soccer. As I mentioned I always read your post as I can see your a thoughful person who thinks before he speaks & I respect those qualities you have as it's so much better to read your post when you consider we have so many idiots & racist coming to post so much garbage here. Your one of the very few people I will actually respond to here & I look forward to reading your views & thoughts.

Rasputin, no worries, I wasn't taking it personally at all. It's actually because you usually put some thought into your posts and actually have an interest in discussing matters of football intelligently that I often respond to what you write. I don't always agree, but then it wouldn't be much of a discussion if people didn't have differing points of view.

It's actually exactly the point you make that is at the basis of my desire to see the US hire someone like Klinsman (and I say like Klinsman, because my hopes aren't pinned on him alone, just someone with the top level experience he has and preferably European experience). I've toured England to play and train, not professionally but with my college and club teams and have seen the system up close and personal. It's exactly that experience you had as a young player, and that is typical in the European system, that gives someone like Klinsman the different perspective on player development. I want someone in charge of the program that knows what true player development at the highest levels is all about, not someone that will continue to rely so heavily on the college/university and flawed ODP programs. I want American players to start getting true, high quality player development at younger ages. More programs like the residency program in Florida, more established youth and reserve programs in the MLS clubs, etc.

I wouldn't expect Klinsman to be able to reproduce what he did with Germany, but that's not really what I'm after. I'm not looking for instant success. I want to see someone take the helm that will, from the top down, start implementing some of the changes that will get the US on a long term development track. We haven't really had someone with that type of resume and I'd like to see what could come of it. It's long term vision that I'm hoping for, and if good results come sooner than expected, I'll take that too.

USSF ...(Please Mr. Klinsmann! Be our coach!We want to win the world cup! We are Americans & have to be the best at everything as it's our God given right!By the way, could you bring in an entire squad of imported players if you decide to take this job?) What a joke the USSF is!

Too funny Rex, but so true!

Well once again I've read everyones' post. Somebody here mentioned doesn't the U.S. deserve a good coach too? Actually I have looked over all the post as it interest me just to see what others views are compared to my own. I have not read any post here that stated the U.S. does not deserve a good coach. I however have read & agreed with some people here that having a good coach really won't change things for the better that much. Even though I don't agree with the sarcastic remarks some of these people have made. It's well known America is a pretty rich country so it should be no problem for the USSF to get proper funding. However America is not a soccer nation. The powers that be in America push other sports into the light & I think soccer will never be able to compete with these sports as it's not infused into the culture like these sports. Also it will be difficult to lure a good coach to come to America to take over the national team as this coach will know from the get go that the USSF will expect wins when in reality they will lose more games than win games. Also America is like any other national when it comes to professional sports meaning ...We all want to win & be number one! It's going to take an awful long time for any coach to come to America & build a solid team with a solid program under it. It will be a learning process which taks quite a bit of time which means growing pains as the result of more defeats. I don't think the USSF actually sees this & will see things in a realistic manner to give any coach regardless if it's Klinsmann or anyone else for that manner the proper amount of time to bring the national team program to the level the USSF wants before giving hime the axe.

That's a mold-berkear. Great thinking!