No US men's national team manager has found himself in a more unusual position than current boss Dave Sarachan.
Installed originally as a caretaker boss in the months that followed the Americans' failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the longtime coach in various roles with the USSF is still in the role, as the Federation is set to announce the new general manager in the coming days.
In a deep dive, one-on-one interview with Yahoo Sports' Henry Bushnell prior to the US's 3-0 friendly win over Bolivia on Monday, Sarachan opens up about the unique perspective of such a role, and addresses some of criticisms he has faced over his seven-month tenure.
Perhaps most pointedly, Sarachan vehemently protested the notion that call-ups and caps should be doled out haphazardly in the name of preparing for the future, even before starting one of the youngest American XI's in history at Talen Energy Stadium.
“National team call-ups and playing time is not just handed out," Sarachan told Yahoo Sports. "It’s not just given to guys because they’re young. In fact, it’s almost the opposite. It’s gotta be earned. These aren’t just token things because a guy plays for a big club in Europe, but he hasn’t really played, but he’s got a potential future. The idea of just giving guys minutes is just insane. And it’s not anything I would ever entertain.”
Check out the full story to hear more of Sarachan's insights, as well as the observations of those who have donned the badge for him.
