Pope also ending his USMNT career

[TimB4Last]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/08/03/pope.qa/

The latest U.S. player to retire from international soccer is defender Eddie Pope, who followed Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride by announcing that he'll focus entirely on his club career from now on.

Pope's national-team legacy will be as one of the best defenders in U.S. history, a mainstay of three World Cup teams and the owner of 87 caps. Unlike Reyna or McBride, though, Pope has played his entire career in MLS, turning down an opportunity to go to Germany's Bayer Leverkusen in the late 1990s.

Interview with Grant Wahl follows ...

[TimB4Last]

Nice interview, too, not much negativity.

On the ever-present coaching question:

SI.com: The U.S. doesn't have a new coach yet. What would you like to see happen?

Pope: I'd like to see someone who understands American players. If that's a foreign coach, so be it. If it's an American guy, even better. I don't think it should just be some coach from somewhere around the world who'd come in and try to win over everyone.

On the MLS v. Euro question:

SI.com: A lot of folks are saying now that if the U.S. wants to take the next step it needs more players in Europe. You always turned down chances to go to teams like Bayer Leverkusen. What's your stance on that debate?

Pope: You have to look back at '02. How many MLS guys were on the team? There were quite a few. It was a good mixture. If things don't go perfectly, then everyone's looking for a reason. Had we done better [in '06], that wouldn't be said.

I think maybe the focus should be on MLS creating a better environment for the players. That can be done, whether it's every team having their own training facility and stadium or making the reserve league more competitive or increasing the pay. Just a little tweaking here and there.

I don't think the whole [U.S.] team has to be in Europe for the team to do well, and in '02 we proved that. I don't know if we had a team full of European guys that we'd do that much better. A mixture can work, and it will work in the future.

[TimB4Last]

And USSoccer's official announcement:

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_281230.html

"I really never imagined that my international career would last this long, and I am very grateful for the opportunities over the last 11 years. I want to thank everyone in the U.S. Soccer family, and particularly the fans, for all the support over the years. It has made my national team career very, very special.”

Nice quotes as well from Arena & Gulati. Good photo, too, of Pope in action.

[atorres4]

I'm going to miss Pope...Pope was someone i trusted in the field...always. I have seen him play since back in 1994...he is one of my favorite players!!...

ill miss you pope!!

[Galaxian]

He was the best US defender ever , always reliable in the back , a rock . Thanks Eddie .

[bwach]

From the Japan friendly this year:

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/fifa/gen/fifa/20060211/i/4195448753.jpg

Talk about a quiet exit.

[atorres4]

with ballack...

http://images.ussoccer.com/Images/Gallery/179_318514_md_xl_USMNTWC2002358.jpg

with Davis...

http://images.ussoccer.com/Images/Gallery/179_318515_md_xl_xl_USMNT583.jpg

Great defender!

[FnordUnitedFC]

One of our best ever defenders, especially from 1997-2002. Had no business being on the field during 2006, but I will not spoil the moment complaining about that. Best of luck to you Eddie, and thank you for many good memories.

[Mistake]

He wasn't our best defender in 2002 World Cup (Sanneh)
He wasn't our best defender in 2006 World Cup (Onyewu).

In his prime years for defenders, he wasn't even our best defender at the World Cup.

The greatest defender in U.S. history? I'll pass on that one.

His lack of fortitude to take the plunge overseas retarded his growth for the past 6 years.

I see current Onyewu similar to 1998 Pope. Fortunantly Onyewu has the ambition and will improve to be a great top level player.

[evanpemsocr]

He wasn't our best defender in 2002 World Cup (Sanneh)
He wasn't our best defender in 2006 World Cup (Onyewu).

In his prime years for defenders, he wasn't even our best defender at the World Cup.

The greatest defender in U.S. history? I'll pass on that one.

His lack of fortitude to take the plunge overseas retarded his growth for the past 6 years.

I see current Onyewu similar to 1998 Pope. Fortunantly Onyewu has the ambition and will improve to be a great top level player.

Who is our best ever defender then? He obviously past his best this time around but he has been a rock for so many years. Steady Eddie. I dont think not going to Europe hurt him. We need some players to stay in MLS, Im glad he chose to and it didnt hurt his career.

[JeremyEritrea]

It wouldn't be a BigSoccer thread without "fans" crapping all over Eddie's career.

[eric_appleby]

I don't know if he was our best defender ever, but he belongs in consideration.

Hate to say this, but I wish he had retired from the USNT a year ago.

[HSEUPASSION]

Had a great international career. He was all about his actions on the field, never drew attention to himself by blabbing off.

[superdave]

Pope has played his entire career in MLS, turning down an opportunity to go to Germany's Bayer Leverkusen in the late 1990s.

So we're supposed to hate him, right?

There was a moment, a year or two, after he'd gained enough experience and before age and injuries began to sap his speed and quickness, when he could have made the 23 of just about any national team in the world (maybe not France), and started for all but a tiny handful. By that standard, the peak of his career was the greatest of any field player we've had since at least the 1930s.

[TimB4Last]

I don't know if he was our best defender ever, but he belongs in consideration.

Hate to say this, but I wish he had retired from the USNT a year ago.

I've always been a big Eddie Pope fan, and that hasn't changed. I think he gave us full value, even if age and time took their inevitable toll.

Stating the obvious, it's possible both that 1) Eddie Pope was, in his prime, (one of) the USMNT's best defender(s) ever; and 2) Eddie Pope was, at WC Germany 2006, well past his prime and no longer (one of) the USMNT's best defender(s) ever.

I guess where I differ from some posters here (and/or the parallel N&A thread) is in my opinion that I don't blame Eddie (or Claudio, Brian, Kasey, etc.) for not stepping aside (earlier).

Young players have to step up and push their elders aside. There's an old saw that goes something like, "Power isn't something you're given; power is something you take." We didn't have enough young players step up and demand more playing time and starting roles, 'forcing' some of our 'aging' stars into an early USMNT retirement.

Still, I don't even know how fair it is to blame our young players for not seizing their opportunities. The responsibility for this year's debacle rests squarely on one man's shoulders. Thankfully, he's also recently announced his own 'retirement' from the USMNT.

[Zoidberg]

The responsibility for this year's debacle rests squarely on one man's shoulders. Thankfully, he's also recently announced his own 'retirement' from the USMNT.


Now he is going to get credit for what ABMOD has started and can probably do just as well.

ABMOD has shown he knows how to read a game and when to sub, already making him a better in game coach than Donut Boy.

Then again, a large portion even in a place like this could do that.

Pope - In his prime I will say best.

[Clint Eastwood]

If Pope isn't the best defender of all time, than I don't know who is. Lalas? Balboa? Agoos? Who?

Best GK of all time: Keller
Best defender of all time: Pope
Best Midfielder of all time: Reyna
Best Forward of all time: McBride

Two or the four are retired now, and I wouldn't be surprised if the other two followed suit.

It sure feels like a massive generation switch going on here.

[TimB4Last]

So we're supposed to hate him, right?

There was a moment, a year or two, after he'd gained enough experience and before age and injuries began to sap his speed and quickness, when he could have made the 23 of just about any national team in the world (maybe not France), and started for all but a tiny handful. By that standard, the peak of his career was the greatest of any field player we've had since at least the 1930s.

Actually, I think we're supposed to read the article, in context, as an appreciation of a retiring player. Sorry I wasn't clearer that the thread-starting sentiments were Wahl's, not mine, but in any event the point about Pope's staying in MLS his whole career, and not going to Europe, is a fair one.

I can see you're very sensitive on this issue, but I'm not. Players (and people) make choices with their lives, and then they live with those choices. Pope doesn't sound regretful or apologetic, nor should he. Pope could have gone to Europe - as you noted, at one time he would have been in great demand - but chose not to do so. His life, his choice - who am I to disagree?

You, on the other hand, should lighten up before you blow a gasket. ;)

[superdave]

Tim...I was just drawing a contrast to the vilification of Landon.

If Pope isn't the best defender of all time, than I don't know who is. Lalas? Balboa? Agoos? Who?

Best GK of all time: Keller
Best defender of all time: Pope
Best Midfielder of all time: Reyna
Best Forward of all time: McBride

Two or the four are retired now, and I wouldn't be surprised if the other two followed suit.
???

I think all but Keller have retired. In any event, Friedel was better...better club career by a clear margin, better with the Nats.

[TimB4Last]

Tim...I was just drawing a contrast to the vilification of Landon.*

???

I think all but Keller have retired. In any event, Friedel was better...better club career by a clear margin, better with the Nats.

Yes, it's 3 of 4, and I can't imagine KK sticking around unless the new coach convinces him he's got a real shot at the #1 spot. I guess in the absence of a new coach, I'll have to break the bad news to him myself. Howard's #1 now, and if he fails, I'm going younger, not older.

"So, Kasey, I'm arranging a conference call next week so we can schedule a one-shot testimonial game. Uh, yes, four of you so far, but I might be conferencing in another player or two. No, no, let me break the news to them first - they're a little slow on the uptake. ...."

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* Maybe I'm the one who has to lighten up! I agree with you on LD. His life, his choices - he's not here on earth to make me happy. I wouldn't mind if he gave Spain a shot, but if he's miserable in Europe, he won't improve - he'll just be miserable.