NEW YORK – Did the US Soccer Federation have conversations with other candidates for the US National Team coaching job that eventually went back to Bob Bradley? It's unclear – USSF president Sunil Gulati wouldn't address the rumors on Tuesday, but it's certainly possible the federation explored other options.
Not that anyone would begrudge Gulati from doing so. After all, Bradley himself was looking into other opportunities overseas.
“I said many times that the period following the World Cup, it was necessary for both sides to assess things and assess opportunities,” Bradley said on Tuesday. “I think it took time on both sides. … Each side has sort of got a separate path, looking into different things, having some discussions and eventually coming to the point of decision.”
That decision was the extension of Bradley’s stay with the US National Team for another four-year cycle.
WATCH: Bradley talks new contract, goals looking into 2014
Sources tell MLSsoccer.com that ESPN's report over the weekend – that US Soccer had engaged in discussions with former German National Team coach and ESPN World Cup analyst Jürgen Klinsmann – was accurate.
But on Tuesday, Gulati wanted to keep the focus on Bradley and refrained from entering into any details about individuals the federation may have approached.
“I’m not going to talk about any conversations we’ve had with any other candidates,” Gulati said.
It may have taken a couple of months after the World Cup to make a final decision on the manager for the next World Cup cycle, but it’s pretty clear what the next milestone is for the US senior team: the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
READ: Gulati says it's time for USMNT to build off experiences
“It’s absolutely the top priority over the next 12 months,” Gulati said. “As was the case three years ago, that was our priority in the first summer. We won that and it played into getting into Confederations Cup.”
