Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
RONALD BLUM
Associated Press
Juergen Klinsmann and the U.S. Soccer Federation are likely to know within a week whether their talks will lead to a deal for him to become coach of the American national team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.
Klinsmann and USSF president Sunil Gulati have held lengthy discussions about the possibility of the former German star forward succeeding Bruce Arena, who coached the team for 7 1/2 years and was let go by Gulati after the World Cup. No deal has been agreed to yet, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.
Gulati's goal in the summer was to hire a coach by late November, but he said in October that a decision might not happen until December.
Klinsmann led Germany to the World Cup semifinals last summer in his first professional coaching job, then quit after the tournament. He lives in Newport Beach, Calif. - driving distance from the complex in Carson that often is used by the U.S. team for its training camps
He said in October that he was interested in becoming the U.S. coach, and most of the USSF's attention appears to have been focused on him. Jose Pekerman, who coached Argentina at the World Cup, also was among the candidates.
The United States is scheduled to play its first game since the World Cup on Jan. 20, an exhibition against Denmark in Carson. A Feb. 7 exhibition against Mexico in the Phoenix area also has been discussed.
Two tournaments highlight next year's U.S. schedule. The Americans will defend their title at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, to be played in six U.S. cities from June 6-24. The U.S. team also was invited to the Copa America, the championship of South America, to be played in Venezuela from June 26-July 15.
