I know he is persona non grata around these parts, and this was a thread that probably was started back when he first got the job, but first of all I think it is amazing that an American is coaching another national team! Can anyone explain this hiring, and any follow-up on how he is faring? I know the results, but in terms of Costa Rican press/players/fans eyes?
All I can say is the Sampson has a good reputation in Costa Rica. He is doing very well with the National team. I listen to the Spanish Radio Unica daily Soccer show and I can tell you is that they think that Steve Sampson is doing a great job. I hope I've answered your question.
Good for him. I wish him luck. Against all but US of course. I don't think I had heard he was coaching CR. Was glad to have him as our coach until his WC debacle. I hope he finds success in CR.
I think you are confused - Bora Milutinovic coached Mexico, Nigeria & China (after us), and Costa Rica (before us). James
Sampson is fluent in Spanish, and during WC 2002 in Korea/Japan, he did Spanish radio broadcasts. I think that's probably when the CRFA realized he was a solid candidate. I say good for him, except when they play us. James
Sampson (along with most US Nat players) had always spoken to the Spanish-language media in Spanish so I doubt that his fluency was news to the CRFA. Though doing radio broadcast certainly didn't hurt, I'm sure. Although we will always remember him for the 1998 debacle, he did a hell of a job qualifying when MLS was still in its infancy and some veterans who had become too big for the team.
Yes, Sampson only coached Santa Clara before becoming Bora's assisstant. My best memory of Sampson's tenure was the Copa America 1995.
Even if i hated his tactics and how he made the team look during WC 98, I remember him being the only radio broadcaster in that 2002 WC radio show that had any faith in the US.... I remember prior to the Mexico game everyone of the broadcasters were very skeptical of Sampson's opinions based on what had happened vs. Poland and how well Mexico had played in the first round. Sampson was the only one who stood by the US and told them that this is a clasico, the US can beat Mexico and that every single game must be played in order to see have winner (in contrast to everyone else on the show, who had Mexico as already through to the next round)
I don't think the final results of WC98 fully reflect what he did for US soccer. '95 was a great result. He just played his cards wrong at the wrong time right before '98. And I don't think the full affect of having players in the MLS had been felt in time for WC98. If the MLS had started another year or two sooner, I think the results at WC98 would've been better. I mean, hey, he didn't take fat Tony as a GK to the WC. How bad could he be?
Let's not forget Per Henrickson. He's the other American who's a national team coach. For Bhutan, I believe. Lee
Sampson did a great job at the 1995 Copa America (his greatest success) and a great job at getting the US team to WC 1998. He did a very poor job at WC 1998, but many of the veteran players must also take some of the blame. I think scheduling Macedonia, Kuwait, and Scotland was the beginning of our downfall. I still have nightmares about the 3-6-1 and the Austria/Germany games.
I think "played his cards wrong" is the perfect description for '98. He looked at the team that qualified and knew that they can either keep the same team and have a mediocre World Cup or make some changed and risk disrupting the team chemistry but have a chance of making the 2nd Round. He had to take the gamble, imho. And absolutely right about MLS. Another year or two, the league would have helped immensely in the qualifiers and in France.