I was browsing through Filip Bondy's excellent book on the US national team a month ago. There is an interesting passage in there that suggests Sunil wanted to hire Donadoni and had a meeting with him soon after we were eliminated from the 2006 WC. In the end, the effort wasn't successful with Donadoni taking the Italy job. He was fired from that job after Italy went out on penalty kicks to Spain in Euro 2008. I believe Donadoni is currently available. He was highly regarded when with the Metrostars for his willingness to work with younger players and generally for being a fine player and prince of a gentleman. His lack of success with Italy takes on a new perspective given their performance in this WC. It wouldn't surprise me if Roberto remains very high on Sunil's list of potential US national team coaches.
Italy is a very serious footballing country. I would attach significant weight to the fact that Donadoni was hired to be their coach. That alone is a very strong endorsement in my mind (as is the fact that Germany hired Klinnsman). Those countries always have some very good candidates available.
Did that book happen to mention what other candidates Gulati was looking at? Aside from Kilnsmann obviously.
He had respectable results in one stint, but hardly earth shattering ones. He had poor results at Genoa, Italy relative to expectations, and at Napoli. Personally once you get past his name as a player, he is not an overwhelming candidate.
I always kind of laugh at these responses when you look at Bob Bradley getting fired from the Metrostars.
Ive always felt (and made arguments at the time he was hired) the Bradley did not represent the best possible MLS manager when he was hired, just the most "logical" choice with regards to USSF soccer politics. So its entirely consistent with my past statements.