US men’s national team interim coach Dave Sarachan has had his contract extended until the end of the year, but that’s not a guarantee he will still be in charge of the team at the end of the calendar year, as the extension will not preclude U.S. Soccer from hiring a new coach within that time frame.
It is the second time Sarachan’s contract has been extended this year with the first coming in February, which extended his run through June. Assistant coaches Richie Williams and Matt Reis, also had their contracts extended through the end of the year.
The news was first reported by Paul Tenorio of the Athletic.
Sarachan took over the program after Bruce Arena stepped down following the team’s failed qualification bid to the 2018 World Cup. In the six international friendly matches that followed, Sarachan, who is 2-1-3 in those contests, has called in young players who will likely form the nucleus of the program going forward.
There have been 18 players who earned their first caps, and the team had an average age of 22 for friendlies against Bolivia and France.
But it remains to be seen who will be in charge in the future. Earnie Stewart was hired for the newly created position of USMNT general manager earlier this month. A top priority when he officially starts the job on Aug. 1 will be hiring a new coach.
While fans are clamoring for a new coach, with Columbus Crew SC’s Gregg Berhalter, Jesse Marsch of the New York Red Bulls and Mexican national team coach Juan Carlos Osorio all being linked to the position, Stewart and U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro have both said there is no concrete timeline for the hire.
The USMNT have a handful of friendlies set for the remainder of 2018, including a Sept. 7 match against Brazil at MetLife Stadium and a Sept. 11 encounter against Mexico in Nashville. But they won’t play a competitive match until next summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup so in reality, there is no reason to rush an important decision.
