USA’s impressive run to the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil this summer enhanced the team’s growing reputation, while they caught the attention of people back home like never before.
Huge crowds gathered in cities across the States to watch Jurgen Klinsmann’s men in action on big screens as soccer fever hit the country during the tournament and took the sport’s popularity there to probably its highest-ever level.
There are many reasons for this, of course, but the role Klinsmann has played should not be underestimated. US soccer officials should be doing all they can to tie the likeable German down to a new, long-term contract as soon as possible because the highly-rated coach is going to be in demand in Europe like never before over the next 12 months.
Some cynics will claim it is now only a matter of time before the former Bayern Munich and Tottenham striker lands one of the top club positions in either Spain, Italy, England or his homeland but Klinsmann still has unfinished business with Team USA and, for what it’s worth, is under contract until 2018.
Whether or not he gets the chance to lead the side with continued distinction over the next four years remains to be seen, though, as he is among the most sought-after young coaches in world football now. The 50-year-old is so highly-respected by players and US soccer staff that no-one has a bad word to say about him. Klinsmann is rightly viewed as a thoroughly modern, tactically-astute, positive manager who appears to be able to get the very best out of often limited players he is in charge of.
And you would begin to worry that all the progress USA have made in recent years might be halted should he decide to walk away for a new challenge.
Klinsmann has the air of a super-confident, experienced coach, not afraid to make tough calls like his big decision to leave Landon Donovan out of his World Cup squad for Brazil. It was a move that came as a huge surprise to many soccer fans in the States but proved Klinsmann was his own man and not one to toe the party line. At 32, he decided Donovan was no longer the future of the USA team and, amid claims the pair did not get on, Klinsmann dropped him from his group even if he knew the move would be questioned and criticised.
The ensuing better-than-expected display in the World Cup from his team simply served to back up that it was the right call. USA played with passion, determination and a balanced structure in Brazil, while individuals like goalkeeper Tim Howard and midfielder Michael Bradley excelled. It says much for their performances that Klinsmann’s side were many non-American fans’ favoured ‘second team’ as they battled through a tough group involving eventual winners Germany, Ghana and Portugal before only just being edged out by Belgium in a thrilling 2-1 defeat in the last 16.
Supporters were witnessing an organised, confident and motivated side reflective of the personality of the manager in charge.
Plenty of top European clubs will now have Klinsmann marked down as the man they will want to talk to should coaching vacancies arise, something that is bound to happen across the various unpredictable domestic campaigns. Don’t be surprised to see him on bet365’s next manager markets over the coming months.
USA soccer fans will just hope he spurns any advances and decides to continue the journey he has begun so well in his two years so far with the national side.