When Jurgen Klinsmann was hired as the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team five years ago, it was the right move by USA Soccer. Firing him was also the right move. Because for all the great moments that have come with Klinsmann at the helm, there have been too many bad moments to count recently.
Last week's embarrassment in Costa Rica was certainly the last straw. At that point, a change was inevitable. Everyone (the players, the fans, the Federation) had lost all confidence in Klinsmann. From his unusual lineup selections to his questionable in-game adjustments, the USMNT became a shell of its former self. We're supposed to have the best, most feared national team in the region. A team that shouldn't be losing to Guatemala or getting blown out by Costa Rica (as good as the Ticos might be).
Klinsmann's greatest moment, of course, was somehow navigating the Group of Death in the 2014 World Cup, which saw the U.S. advance out of a group that included the current World Cup (Germany) and European (Portugal) champions. There was also that 12-game winning streak in 2013 and the influx of young talent that has invigorated the National Team, as well as his convincing of those players that are based abroad or have dual citizenship to suit up in red, white and blue.
But there was also his very public feud with Landon Donovan that led to the most-capped and highest-scoring player in American history basically being forced into an early retirement from the National Team. That dispute got the most play, but he also stripped Clint Dempsey of the captaincy and forced a number of respected veterans out because of his penchant for younger players. Some of those moves worked, while some others were only successful at alienating many.
After that early run of success, the results began to taper off. In dramatic fashion. Let's start in 2015. The only goal for the U.S. during the 2015 season was to qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup. There were two opportunities to do this. The easiest way was to win the Gold Cup. Instead, the U.S. finished fourth, losing its last two games to Jamaica and Panama, part of a four-game home losing streak to CONCACAF teams. Because the U.S. didn't win the 2015 Gold Cup, it set up a one-game playoff against Mexico for the Confederations Cup berth...which Mexico won.
The goal for 2015 wasn't achieved. I was among those calling for Klinsmann's job after that, but he stayed on with the National Team in 2016. So far, 2016 has seen the Under-23 team (which Klinsmann didn't coach, but did have some players from the senior team on it) fail to qualify for the Olympics and the senior National Team send everyone into panic mode after a loss at Guatemala in the previous round of World Cup qualifying.
Of course, the biggest event for the USMNT in 2016 was the Copa America Centenario on home soil. In the opening game of the biggest soccer tournament on U.S. soil since the 1994 World Cup, the Americans were embarrassed by Colombia. They recovered to win group and reach the semifinals, so many would consider the Copa America to be a success, but it ended the same way it started...with a loss to Colombia. Then the Hex started in the worst possible way. Suddenly, the U.S. looks vulnerable, something which should not happen in a region where the only real rival is Mexico.
Now it looks like USA Soccer will be handing the reins back to Bruce Arena, who presided over Team USA's emergence as a player in major international tournaments. It was Arena that took the USA to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002. Sure, there was also the disappointment of 2006 (when Klinsmann led host Germany to a third-place finish), but Arena is still the only man to lead the USA into two World Cups, and he's won more games with the national team than anybody.
And with the Hex not resuming until March, Arena will have five months to prepare the team for the final eight games of qualifying. Yes, the U.S. is 0-2 and has a -5 goal differential, but there's still plenty of time to qualify, and I don't think there's a single person out there who doesn't think the United States will at least finish in the top three and claim a World Cup spot (at the very worst, fourth place gets a playoff spot, which is what Mexico had to do in 2014). Two of the three hardest games are already out of the way, too.
Most importantly, bringing Bruce Arena back (which is still unofficial) will hopefully revive faith in the U.S. Men's National Team. It was Arena that first brought the USA to those great heights and establish that standard that Klinsmann was able to maintain (and even enhance). And ultimately, that was what did Klinsmann in.
People expect the U.S. to be a contender. Those increased expectations are a wonderful thing. It means the United States is relevant in world soccer. Who would've ever expected that? But in the quest to remain relevant, Jurgen Klinsmann was collateral damage. It was a necessary move. Because for all the great things he did in his five-plus-year tenure, it was most certainly time for a change.
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