WHAT ABOUT ... DARE WE SAY IT ... BRUCE ARENA?

 

It sounds funny, I know, but it really is so … 

listening to soccer know-it-alls describe the kind of 

coach who should replace GREGG BERHALTER

 (fired) in charge of the USMNT – tough, no-

nonsense, never intimidated, doesn’t care if he’s 

liked yet understands what it takes to win with 

American talent -- and only one we know of checks 

all the boxes … Shhh, dare we say it out loud? …

BRUCE ARENA … and I’m my own grandpa.

Think about it. Name another coach who has been 

as successful. You can’t … Arena made U.S. soccer 

competitive on the world stage … taking the men’s 

team to a pair of World Cups including 2002 when it 

came within a handball that wasn’t called of having 

a blue-ribbon chance to reach the semifinals … after 

claiming five national championships at the 

University of Virginia before doing likewise in 

Major League Soccer. He is the winningest 

American soccer coach … and, forget

 arguably, make it unquestionably the best this 

country has ever seen.

Nevertheless, you would be hard-pressed to hear 

anyone even mention Arena’s name much less 

dismiss him out of hand. Surely it can’t be because 

of his age (72). Or because hardly anyone other than 

the people who counted most would vote for him in 

a popularity contest … and then not every player 

liked him either … but that didn’t matter as long as 

Arena was respected … which just about all of them 

did. 

So, what is it? I heard one analyst say you shouldn’t 

blame Berhalter for the U.S. being first host in more 

than 20 years to be ousted from Copa America in 

the group stage. Instead, he pointed a (middle?) 

finger at the players … like TIM WEAH “who had 

a mental breakdown” and got tossed from a game 

with a straight red card early on and thereby had to 

sit out the next game, too.

That thinking should absolve Arena of the loss at 

Trinidad and Tobago, falling 2-1 on an own goal in 

a game the Americans only required a tie to 

advance, that kept the USMNT from qualifying for 

the 2018 World Cup. It was an easy if unwarranted 

kill for Arena haters ... who tend to forget he was 

brought in to replace the fired JURGEN 

KLINSMANN well into the qualifying round and 

proceeded to set a USMNT record with 14 straight 

victories (all competitions) … and still take great 

pleasure in using disgraced to remind everyone who 

was the coach at one of the lowest moments in U.S. 

soccer history.

Or, could it be Arena’s most recent brush with 

authority that led to his suspension – and finally 

resignation -- – as coach of MLS New England 

Revolution … after resuscitating a woebegone 

franchise and finishing with the league’s best overall 

record in 2021? … To date no one, including Arena 

and MLS commissioner DON GARBER, has said 

what happened … which has led to all kinds of 

rumors better set aside if only someone would speak 

up.

If you know Arena even a little bit, you know it’s 

killing him not to set the record straight … but, until 

June, all he had said was he made mistakes, which 

he regretted … and that there had been some 

misunderstanding about what it would take for him 

to coach again in MLS. The fact that he and Garber 

were not what anyone would call buddies didn’t 

help the situation.

This past June 4, appearing on the CBS Sports 

Network, Arena spoke for the first time at some 

length since his resignation Sept. 23, 2023 … but 

didn’t/couldn’t give details of what MLS called 

“inappropriate and insensitive remarks” as the 

reason for his suspension. Citing “legal reasons” for 

not being able to tell all, he also said he “was 

looking forward to” the day when he could.

Arena did create a stir, however, when he said: “I 

think there are more quality players now than ever 

before … [but] we need more with [former U.S., 

standout turned TV commentator]

CLINT DEMPSEY’s attitude … guys who can 

compete … who are fighting for 90 minutes on the 

field. We need tougher players … The current team 

wouldn’t beat the 2002 team.”

Maybe Dempsey should give it a try. How about

ALEXI LALAS? Maybe one of them could get the 

job done. They certainly seem to have all the 

answers on Fox … even if neither has been 

a coach and probably is too bright to do it now.

At the rate new USSF managing director of 

operations MATT CROCKER, entrusted with 

making the selection, is being rejected … who 

knows? Perhaps no one wants the Excedrin-sized 

headache. First, former Liverpool coach JURGEN 

KLOPP reportedly turned down Crocker (although it’s 

doubtful his going rate of $10 million-plus would have 

been met). Now, former USMNT player JESSE 

MARSCH, whose coaching credentials – and upbeat 

style of play – made him a leading candidate, said he 

wasn’t interested … and wouldn’t change his mind 

unless there were changes in the USSF hierarchy,

(Quick back story: Marsch was included in the search 

for a coach last year to replace Berkhalter, who was 

suspended and thought to be gone, the result of a 

public dust-up with CLAUDIO REYNA and his wife 

… that began with remarks made about son and 

USMNT midfielder GIO REYNA … and ended with 

the Reynas accusing Berkhalter of assault and battery 

against his former girl friend now his wife … Marsch 

said he felt disrespected during the interview process 

… which was later revealed to include a bunch of 

strange, unusual questions that had nothing to do with 

soccer … a sort of verbal Rorschach Test, if you will. 

Then, of all things, they re-hired Berkhalter … and this 

May Marsch became coach of the Canadian men’s 

national team … which reached the semifinals of Copa 

America, losing on penalties in the third-place game.)

In all, ESPN came up with 16 possibilities … none 

named B. Arena … all of which helps to understand 

Crocker’s dilemma … from 74 year old JOSE 

PEKERMEN … who? ... to JAVIER AGUIRRE, 

65 ...double who?? … to MAURICIO 

POCHETTINO, 52 …THOMAS TUCHEL, 50 

… WILFRED NANCY, 47 … STEVE 

CHERUNDOLO, 45 … and JIM CURTIN, 45.

At this point we have no reason to believe Arena, if 

asked, would serve. He’s back living in 

Charlottesville and having too much fun playing 

golf. Stay tuned.

Until next time ...