It remains to be seen whether or not Jurgen Klinsmann keeps his job as head coach of the US men’s national team, but the US Soccer Federation has been in touch with a pair of MLS coaches about potentially replacing the German since late last year, according to ESPN FC.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle and Doug McIntyre reported on Thursday that US Soccer has been in contact with LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena and Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes within the last year.
The Washington Post reported following the US’s 4-0 World Cup qualifying loss at Costa Rica on Tuesday that US Soccer had lined up Arena to take the USMNT job should they fire Klinsmann.
Carlisle and McIntyre also reported that Arena’s contract with LA was set to expire in December, but that the Galaxy recently signed him to a two-year extension. The report stated that the new contract would allow Arena to leave if offered the national team job. In addition to Arena and Vermes, Carlisle and McIntyre reported that US Under-20 head coach Tab Ramos could also be a candidate for an open USMNT managerial position.
A US Soccer spokesman confirmed to MLSsoccer.com on Thursday that Klinsmann is currently in Berlin, where he was invited to attend Thursday’s state dinner between President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The German manager has come under heavy criticism following the US’s qualifying losses to Costa Rica and Mexico, with many outlets calling for his job following Tuesday’s defeat in San Jose. He’s current contract runs through 2018 World Cup.
