Firing Jurgen Klinsmann was American Stupid

Axing the German coach was ill-conceived and will set USMNT's prospects backwards.

International Soccer

Last year, I wrote that If You Want Klinsmann Fired, You Are Dumb. This year, I declare that the powers that be at U.S. Soccer are officially stupid. Klinsmann was the best thing that ever happened for American soccer and U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati just made the poorest executive decision.

By jettisoning Klinsmann, Gulati refused to stand for positive progress and long-term goals in the wake of criticism. Instead he bowed down to American whining, the mob mentality of social media, and the underdeveloped writers and pundits of American soccer media.

Klinsmann led our national team to unprecedented friendly wins in Europe. He steered the team out of the Group of Death in the last World Cup. A group that included eventual champions Germany, a Portugal squad that ended up recently winning the Euros, and U.S. kryptonite Ghana, a team that had knocked the U.S. out of the previous two World Cups. The national team finally exited in the knockout stages in overtime to talent-laden Belgium.

And in the next biggest tournament, Klinsmann led the U.S. to the semifinals of Copa America Centenario. The Americans finished better than Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico and Costa Rica in a tournament that mattered. But stupid people focus on the fact that the U.S. got smoked by an elite Argentina. In what universe was the U.S. ever going to beat Lionel Messi and the number one ranked Argentinians?

Despite all of his success, ignorant individuals called for Klinsmann’s exit by pointing to a loss to Jamaica in the Gold Cup in 2015, a loss to Mexico in the Confederations Cup playoff the same year, and recent World Cup qualifier losses to Mexico at home and Costa Rica on the road.

Jamaica hurt, but Gold Cups do not matter. The U.S. outplayed Jamaica that game but lost on two crucial mistakes. John Brooks, a then 22-year old developing center back got beat on a throw in. And recently promoted goalkeeper Brad Guzan made an egregious hand-ball mental error. Are any morons aware that you play these guys in the Gold Cup to get experience so that they can perform on bigger stages like the Copa America and World Cup? Do people know what development is?

Mexico is better than the U.S. at soccer. Get over it. I was there at the Rose Bowl in the Confederations Cup playoff. Mexico simply has more skill and speed than the Americans. Yet the Yanks clawed back twice in that game only to fall to a world-class strike in the 118^th minute. In a rematch in Columbus, the U.S. looked far the better team after the first 30 minutes and lost on a late goal because Jozy Altidore fell asleep on Rafa Marquez. Yes, the same Rafa Marquez that played 163 games for Barcelona and captained Mexico for four World Cups.

“But we lost to Costa Rica?” We always lose to Costa Rica on the road. Heading into that game, the U.S. was 0-8-1 on Costa Rican soil in World Cup qualifiers. And it is the same Costa Rica that beat Italy and Uruguay on its way to the World Cup quarterfinals and has Real Madrid’s number one keeper. A now 23-year old Brooks got schooled in this game, but that is experience he needs to excel at the next World Cup.

Despite the two results against difficult teams in World Cup qualifying, the U.S. was still on its way to qualify for Russia in 2018 under Klinsmann’s guidance. If the national team does not qualify for Russia or performs disastrously over there then you consider chopping Klinsmann. You do not judge world caliber coaches on intermediate results. That is akin to Apple firing Steve Jobs because the company had a bad quarter before the iPhone debut.

Klinsmann has already brought about the future of U.S. Soccer. Brooks is 23 and our future at center back. Bobby Wood is 24 and already a star at striker. Christian Pulisic is 18 freaking-years old and may be America’s best player already. Deandre Yedlin is 23 and faster than you. Add them to Fabian Johnson (28), Timmy Chandler (26), Geoff Cameron (31), and Julian Green (21) who all were brought along by Jurgen Klinsmann.    

Klinsmann has stressed the importance of overseas development because he knows Europe is where the best progress occurs. All the aforementioned new guys as well as the most recent successes (Bradley, Dempsey, Howard, Altidore, Jones) received European training. Yet senseless people want domestically grown players and think the MLS is the answer. The MLS is garbage and we are decades away from competing if that league becomes our solution.

The critics of Jurgen Klinsmann have an inferior soccer knowledge and mind compared to him. The Taylor Twellmans, Alexi Lalases, Abby Wambachs and Landon Donovans of the world are pittance versus Klinsmann. He coached Bayern Munich and laid the groundwork for Germany’s World Cup title. Americans are just that--American. There is not a single American in the world that is as qualified as Klinsmann and apparently most of them do not have the soccer wherewithal to accurately judge what he has done or could have done with our country.

Firing the German with American children and an American wife just set U.S. soccer backwards. 2016, you are the worst.