Tonight, August 5, 2010, Alexi Lalas, during his post-match commentaries on the Columbus-Philadelphia game stated that the US team that will play Brazil on August 10 will be composed of players who are being rewarded for their play in South Africa; it will not be the team that will play in Brazil in 2014.  However, the team that will play in 2014 needs to be built now, RIGHT NOW!  I agree with Alexi 100%

In order to build a world class team we need a world class coach.  Alexi said that the coach should be someone who can impart a philosophy of soccer on the team. I have previously observed that US players are excellent athletes in top physical form. But as a team we lack holism, i.e., our team as a whole is not greater than the sum of its parts.  Great teams are holistic, the team as a whole is better than the individual players.  This I believe is the secret of Brazil (which was lacking in WC 2010) in the past and which the Spaniards have captured in their quick passing game.  This is the type of character the US team lacks.  I'm not saying that we should adopt the Spanish game but rather we need to develop a game that gives a holistic  effect to our physical presence, energy and speed.  We have the potential to play creatively and artistically like Brazil but with the physical presence and intensity of the English or Germans.   Only we have this potentiality due to our superior athletic training methods and free spirits.  American sports philosophy is simple:  We play to win.  Therefore, US Soccer needs needs a coach that can teach us to win in the world’s biggest stage.

Previously I've said that in my opinion that US coaches, while very competent, do not have the successful international experience--coaching major foreign clubs in foreign countries.  It is difficult under these circumstances for a person to develop the coup d'oeil necessary to take our US team to the next level--that of a top world class team.  As Aristotle reminds us, "We are what we repeatedly do."  Soccer is just now beginning to take a hold in the US.  In other countries, soccer is life; everything else is details.  I believe that a person who becomes a top coach under this ethos is more capable than our domestic coaches to give rise to a great US team. 

I believe that Jurgen Klinsmann is the man for the job.  Besides his outstanding experience as a world-class player, Jurgen's resume as a coach is equally amazing.

Here, I quote directly from his website

In June 2000, Jürgen earned his German Football Teacher License in a course led by Georg Bisanz that included members of Germany’s winning 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1996 UEFA European Championship teams.

Jürgen continued his on-going coaching education process by participating in and presenting at a number of coaching forums, including the Asian Football Confederation coaching workshop (2001), the National Soccer Coaches Association of America annual conventions, the Footecon symposiums developed by Carlos Alberto Parreira, and adidas’ Elite Soccer Program among others.

For the 2004 Major League Soccer season, Jürgen agreed to become Technical Advisor for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In this capacity, Jürgen worked with both the coaching staff and players on technical and tactical considerations as well as the personal development needed to become a world class footballer.

In July 2004, the German Football Federation (DFB) asked Jürgen to become manager of the German national team. Germany had been eliminated in the group stage of the 2004 UEFA European Championships, and the DFB wanted the national team program revitalized in preparation for hosting the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Jürgen melded young, up and coming players with proven veterans; recalled Germany’s championship teams with an aggressive, attacking style of play; insisted on superior fitness; used experts from related fields (e.g. fitness) to enhance preparation; and embraced the team’s role in German society by making Berlin the team’s World Cup headquarters. Jürgen’s leadership approach and coaching acumen resulted in Germany exceeding predictions for the 2004 -2006 time period:

• 34 matches with 20 wins, 8 draws, 6 losses

• 3rd place 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup

• 3rd place 2006 FIFA World Cup

• German Coach of the Year (2006)

Jürgen stepped aside as German national team manager after the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He left in place a foundation for on-going success, including the core of the German national team coaching staff and players that led Germany to 2nd place in the 2006 UEFA European Championships and a top seed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In 2008, Jürgen accepted the challenge of coaching FC Bayern Munich. Jürgen helped design a new player development and performance center for Bayern and then launched into molding the team for the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League campaigns. Under Jürgen’s guidance, Bayern reached the quarter final of the Champions League, losing to eventual champion Barcelona. Bayern’s record during the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League was 6 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss (to Barcelona).

In the Bundesliga, Bayern was only 3 points out of first place, with 5 matches to play, when Jürgen was replaced as coach due to a difference of opinion with the club’s Board of Directors. Bayern’s record under Jürgen during the 2008/2009 Bundesliga season was 16 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses.

What Jurgen really brings to US Soccer is knowledge, experience, a philosophy of the game and an understanding of Americans.  In my view, Jurgen is the only person that combines these attributes and can transform our team into a world-class team. 

BOTTOM LINE:  Jurgen Klinsmann for coach of the US Men’s Soccer Team for Brazil 2014 NOW!! RIGHT NOW!!!  With Jurgen, we can win Brazil 2014!!!

GUYS, I MEAN BRAZIL 2014

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