Former Germany World Cup winner and manager Juergen Klinsmann was named as the US coach on Friday, the US soccer federation said.
Klinsmann, who took over one day after Bob Bradley was sacked, became the first foreign-born coach to lead the US since Bora Milutinovic, who was in charge from 1991 to 1995.
“We are excited to have Juergen as the head coach,” US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in a statement.
Photo: EPA
“He is a highly accomplished player and coach with the experience and knowledge to advance the program,” Gulati said. “Juergen has had success in many different areas of the game and we look forward to the leadership he will provide on and off the field.”
After Bradley was sacked on Thursday, Klinsmann was immediately installed as the front-runner to take over.
Despite having three years to run on his contract, Bradley was dismissed after his side underperformed as hosts of last month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, where they lost to Mexico in the final after earlier losing to Panama.
US soccer officials have long courted Klinsmann, the former German striker having reportedly turned down the job in 2006 and last year when the federation would not give him the control he demanded.
The US reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, but progress has stalled since then, with a group stage exit in 2006 and a last-16 elimination four years later, both at the hands of Ghana.
Klinsmann brings with him a rich resume as both a player and manager.
He helped Germany to World Cup victory as a player in 1990 and as coach guided them to the semi-finals in 2006 when they hosted the tournament.
As a player, Klinsmann was one of soccer’s top strikers and enjoyed a 17-year career that included stints in four major European leagues and top clubs, including Inter, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich.
He made 108 appearances for Germany and scored 47 goals.
“I am proud and honored to be named the head coach of the US men’s national team,” Klinsmann said. “I would like to thank the US Soccer Federation for the opportunity and I’m excited about the challenge ahead.
“I am looking forward to bringing the team together for our upcoming match against Mexico and starting on the road toward qualifying for the 2014 World Cup,” he added.
Klinsmann’s first match in charge will be a friendly against Mexico on Aug. 10 in Philadelphia.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and