Since 1989, only 11 men have served as head coach of the United States men’s national team. Out of those, only two were not American citizens. There has been a belief within the U.S. Soccer Federation that the USMNT should be led by a native or someone with close ties to the country. The idea is that the coach should be familiar with the domestic club scene and understand the mentality of American players.
The preference for an American coach is based on the fact that no foreign coach has ever won a World Cup, whether men’s or women’s. Following Jurgen Klinsmann’s unsuccessful tenure, Gregg Berhalter was chosen to rebuild the USMNT program. However, with Berhalter’s recent departure, the search for a new coach has begun.
Although the USSF would ideally prefer an American coach for the upcoming World Cup, the reality is that there are no American coaches available with a proven track record at the highest level. As a result, the focus has shifted towards attracting an accomplished international manager who fits the profile of a serial winning coach.
Matt Crocker, the U.S. Soccer sporting director, has made it clear that the priority is to find the best coach possible to lead the team to victory. Crocker successfully recruited Emma Hayes from England to coach the U.S. women’s national team, indicating a willingness to aim high in the coaching search for the men’s team as well.
Several marquee names have been linked to the vacant USMNT coaching position, including Luis de la Fuente, Rafael Benitez, Mauricio Pochettino, and Gareth Southgate. These coaches bring a wealth of experience and success at top clubs in Europe, making them attractive candidates for the role.
While there may be speculation about lesser-known coaches, such as Lee Carsley, the focus seems to be on high-profile candidates with a history of winning trophies. Crocker is reportedly meeting with potential candidates overseas, signaling a departure from previous USMNT coaching searches.
As the search for the next USMNT coach continues, the priority remains on finding a coach who can lead the team to success on the international stage. With the World Cup approaching, the pressure is on to make a strategic and impactful decision that will benefit the team in the long run.