Jurgen Klinsmann fired as USMNT manager

After more than five years at the helm of the United States men’s soccer team, Jurgen Klinsmann was relieved of his duties on Monday afternoon. The move comes after the U.S. dropped the first two matches of the CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifier against Mexico and at Costa Rica.

Klinsmann took over for Bob Bradley on July 29, 2011, after Bradley was fired after a 4-2 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico in Pasadena. While Klinsmann’s regime did have a few high points - the highest possibly being a 2013 Gold Cup title and a Round of 16 appearance against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup - his fate was sealed with a 2-1 loss to Mexico on November 11 and a disastrous 4-0 defeat at Costa Rica on November 15, giving the United States zero points out of a possible six to start the Hex.

As far as a replacement for Klinsmann, various reports are circulating that current LA Galaxy head coach and former USMNT manager Bruce Arena is being considered to step into the post he held from 1998-2006. Under Arena’s guidance, he became the all-time winningest coach in United State men’s soccer history with 71 wins, advanced the USMNT to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2002 World Cup, and led them to a world ranking of fourth, their highest since the FIFA World Rankings were established in 1992. However, after a weak performance in the 2006 World Cup, he was fired in favor of Bob Bradley.