Bob Bradley Fired as Head Coach of the U.S. Men's National Team [NTR]

by Geoff Gibson on Jul 28, 2011 12:46 PM PDT

RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 11: USA manager Bob Bradley looks on as Michael Bradley trains during the USA training session at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Well it's confirmed now. As many speculated and assumed after the USMNT's 4-2 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals, Bob Bradley is no longer the head coach of the national team. This decision was made, according to USSoccer.com, after Sunil Gulati, Bob Bradley and US Soccer CEO Dan Flynn met at the Home Depot Center earlier today.

Personally, I thought Bradley did a well enough job. He's certainly made some glaring mistakes (Ricardo Clark and Robbie Findley!) but I'm not sure many other coaches could have gotten the USMNT farther than the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup either. Many American fans don't want to hear this, but Ghana is and was the better team. Bradley's loss to Mexico, however, is probably what really sealed the deal.

But now it's time to look forward. With a vacant USMNT coaching position, who do you think would be ideal to fill the role?Sound off below!

According the press release, U.S. Soccer will have another announcement on Friday.

[U.S. Soccer]

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I am a fan of firing Bob.

by tevisthe4th on Jul 28, 2011 1:10 PM PDT reply actions

We need to hire a proven non-american coach to get our program going in the right direction.

by tevisthe4th on Jul 28, 2011 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Marcelo Bielsa

He is available, over achieved with the Chilean national team, was willing to take chances with a refreshing 3-3-1-3 formation and attacking football, and he would have a better chance of reaching out to Hispanic players in the US and bringing them in to the national pool.

My second choice, even though he is now 72 years old, is Otto Rehhagel. The man coached for 20 years in Germany, knows how to coach defense, coach Greece to a European Championship and coached a newly promoted side, Kaiserslautern, to a Bundesliga title in 1998. He also experiments with atypical formations and has a long track record or success at modest teams.

by asagai on Jul 28, 2011 1:11 PM PDT reply actions

Marcelo Bielsa

is an interesting choice. Though I don’t know if our personell fit very well.

Otto, on the other hand, I’m not so sure about. Maybe, but I really don’t want to watch a bunch of Greek style bunker games.

Say what you want about America, thirteen bucks still gets you a hell of a lot of mice!

by No Pity on Jul 28, 2011 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions

We beat Spain using that strategy once.

Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.

by Kejsare on Jul 28, 2011 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions

And that was fun

Until it broke down against a (as it turns out) not that good Brazil squad. The Spain win was awesome, but it was more about Spain looking for a pushover and the players making some spectacular individual plays than the strategy.

I’m not saying we can’t defend and counter, I’m just saying it would be nice to build our system and manage our talent better. Is Otto really going to help us develop players like Torres and Agudelo? Or is he going to grab a bunch of guys and focus on getting us (maybe)into the round of 16. Sure, that would be nice(and a lot of fun), but then what?

Say what you want about America, thirteen bucks still gets you a hell of a lot of mice!

by No Pity on Jul 28, 2011 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Aye, "once."

Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.

by Kejsare on Jul 28, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions

lol

Can you tell that subtlety and nuance are not my strong suits?

Say what you want about America, thirteen bucks still gets you a hell of a lot of mice!

by No Pity on Jul 28, 2011 8:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Guus Hiddink

He’s shown his ability multiple times (S Korea, Russia, Turkey) to get the most out of historically unsuccessful soccer countries. Him or Klinsmann get my vote. All I know is that we need to import soccer knowledge. It’s silly to think there’s an american manager who can impart the same kind of knowledge without any of the experience.

by tkauffm on Jul 28, 2011 1:12 PM PDT reply actions

US Soccer wouldn't agree to Klinsmann's demands last time they needed a coach and they won't do so now

Klinsmann wanted control over team selection and USSF wouldn’t give it to him. I say give Rafa Benitez a shot. My only worry with Hiddink is that he wouldn’t stick around long enough to make a difference, which is kind of a worry with Benitez too but Hiddink’s reputation is very much of a team-hopper.

by pdb on Jul 28, 2011 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions

True

But he seems well suited to a deal for the rest of the cycle, which is what I imagine this will be anyway.

Say what you want about America, thirteen bucks still gets you a hell of a lot of mice!

by No Pity on Jul 28, 2011 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Hand of God

I think Maradona is available ; O

by billyraybatesmotel on Jul 28, 2011 1:46 PM PDT reply actions

whoops, Hiddink and Bielsa are taken

Bielsa just signed with Athletic Bilbao 3 weeks ago. Hiddink signed on with Turkey earlier this summer.

I have heard rumors about Lippi. I’d take Dunga, who is also available.

by asagai on Jul 28, 2011 2:20 PM PDT reply actions

Ah, should have read this first

My hopes were all up and everything.

Say what you want about America, thirteen bucks still gets you a hell of a lot of mice!

by No Pity on Jul 28, 2011 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions

by BlazerFan88 on Jul 28, 2011 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Unless they went and re-hired Bruce Arena which would be comedy gold on about a million levels

by pdb on Jul 28, 2011 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

For a direct quote

From Grant Wahl’s piece:

Is it finally Klinsmann time? Two times the U.S. has come achingly close to hiring German legend Jürgen Klinsmann, and two times Klinsmann has left the Americans at the altar. Might the third time be the charm? The California resident is available, unlike a lot of other options, and presumably U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati has the same reasons for hiring Klinsmann now that he had in 2006 and ‘10. When I reached a U.S. Soccer insider on Thursday, he said: "You’re not going to be surprised" by the identity of the new U.S. coach, who is expected to be announced as soon as Friday. That would point toward Klinsmann, who (if named) would be the first foreign U.S. coach since 1995.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/grant_wahl/07/28/bradley.sacked/index.html#ixzz1TSr5hdBa

Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.

by Ryan Gates on Jul 28, 2011 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions