It's still early, but it's time to get down to brass tacks: who should be our manager after the the WC? Regardless of how well/poorly we do, I think we should get a new manager. As we all know too well, keeping a manager past 4 years can lead to stagnation (Arena, Bradley). Domenech stayed 6 years with France and did horribly at the end. Low has coached Germany for 7 years and still hasn't won squat. Sven and Fabio both stayed 5 years coaching England and left during low periods. The only real exception I know of is Del Bosque - and he's just past the 5 year mark (we'll see how he does next summer). So who's our next manager? There are two choices that stand above the rest: Jason Kreis and Dominic Kinnear. These two are clearly the best managers in MLS over the last few years (not counting Arena), and both would make outstanding national team managers. Kinnear has more international experience, having played in a World Cup, plus a few more years of coaching under his belt. Kreis plays a more latin "possession" game, and therefore might do better against Concacaf competition. Either way, I don't think we can go wrong with either manager. Anybody else would be a roll of a dice I wouldn't want to see (Peter Vermes, Sigi Schmid).
Jason Kreis would be an interesting choice and would probably do a decent job, but I doubt he gets hired. I vote for someone else (generally speaking, not the current JK). (Maybe someone who speaks Russian, or knows Russia. Honestly, if I were tasked with selecting a coach for the cycle ending in 2018, I'd just privately ask Michael Bradley who he preferred be coach of the team, and then do whatever it takes to hire that person.)
Are you saying that he hasn't won a major tournament yet? That's a pretty high bar to set, especially given how strong the Spanish have been over that stretch. They've consistently been one of the strongest national teams under Low, and made the semis of the 2010 WC and the 2012 Euro, as well as the finals of the 2008 Euro.
I laughed when I checked Mourinho's current pay package. Had no idea they got pay in that stratosphere. Jason Kreis sounds good to me but I think JK realistically is extended if the performance at the World Cup is satisfactory. I.)Getting into the round of 16 out of a group with 1 seeded + 1 of Italy, Holland, Portugal, France, England will likely see Klinsmann re-upped and there is a better than 50/50 chance of a group like that. The argument will be "wow, look at those star players on traditional powerhauses and we beat them because we played better - which has to go down to coaching, to a significant extent. II) Not getting into the round of 16 out of a group with 1 seeded + 1 of Russia, Bosnia, Greece, Croatia will likely see Klinsmann canned. III) other possibilites like a) not making it out of a group with pot 4 opponents like Italy, Holland, England, Portugal,France b) making it out of a weak group but losing in round of 16 will likely lead to a lively debate that always strands on the question of who is available and better than Klinsmann.
Whoever is manager after the WC has to be someone or have someone close to them that knows mls. And be a good coach of course, that is it. Kreis has pretty much reached the summit in MLS. Clubs in Europe probably won't even give him a sniff unless he shows himself to be worthy at the national team level. Hell, Germany gave Klinsi a shot and he had no coaching experience. I think that is the reason why Kreishasn't signed a new deal with RSL. I think he wants to see what happens this summer and put his name in that hat possibly. I think we keep Klinsi if we have a good WC, though.
I don't buy the one size fits all argument for having managers beyond 4 years. I hope JK remains coach based on a good WC showing. After JK, Kreis is the guy who's name is brought up the most. If he wins this Saturday, that clamor will continue. However, new flavors will emerge by the time we are ready to hire a new coach. One more good season in Portland and Caleb Porter will become a hot topic again (he lost a little shine with the Oly Qualifying, but people will come back around on him). Frankly, I'm OK with any of these guys. I like the young, fiery types that are very ambitious. I'd hate to see a guy like Vermes or Kinnear get the job. Both strike me as overrated.
With the talent base that Germany has (which is more than anyone, save possibly Brazil, Argentina, Spain or Italy), winning is the only measure of success.
Klinsmann post WC. He gets our NT good exposure, wins dual internationals (not saying other coaches can't win dual internationals) and gets some good results too. With his insight, I could see this team taking strides to be more like Switzerland post WC-14. Better academies, better youth development will only add up to better results.
What's the point of only two more years? To see if we win the Gold Cup? It's either zero or four more years.
It's not about firing him. It's about whether or not to extend his contract - it only lasts until end of the WC.
I can't agree with that. For one thing, his contract runs out just after the World Cup. The question is not "do we fire" rather it is "do we sign a new contract". Heck, Klinsmann might choose another assignment after succeeding to quarterfinals with USA. He has no contract binding him. He could certainly ask for new terms/money. There is no need to see either USA or Klinsmann as "bad guy" no matter how this turns out. There are advantages and disadvantages for both parties but equable ones, to my mind.
If the rumors are to be believed, Kries will be the boss of NYFC in 2015 so there's no chance he's going to be the national manager as well.
My arbitrary period that will let us replace him before next WCQ start if necessary. See Bob Bradley demise
Getting hired to be NT coach merits the conversation as to who will replace the current coach and be next to be hired (and then eventually replaced). There are numerous considerations as to if Klinsmann's contract should be extended/renewed. At the conclusion of every WC cycle (or major competition) it is certainly always worth having the conversation and assessing best options for moving forward. (And yes, we're still more than half a year away from formally needing to have the discussion, but I would hope/assume someone(s) at US Soccer is indeed already thinking about who'll be coaching the team in 2015.)