New Coach Kick Starts National Soccer Team

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Dec 7, 1998 | by Ken Wright

Bruce Arena, former coach of D.C. United, has been chosen to head the U.S. national team. Americans hope he can reverse a program that hit bottom during this year's World Cup.

Bruce Arena said he wanted a challenge. Now he has one. The tough-talking soccer coach has been put in charge of the U.S. national team.

Arena replaces Steve Sampson, who transformed U.S. soccer into an international laughingstock with last summer's one-goal performance and lastplace finish at the World Cup in France. Not that the United States was on the cutting edge in international competition. But the team's miserable performance made it appear to be the poorest-managed sport in the world's most powerful nation.

"I know the road ahead will have both peaks and valleys," says Arena, former coach of D.C. United in Washington. "I do look forward to the challenge. I have a lot of confidence in the ability of the American player."

His four-year contract is worth a reported $3.5 million, but he'll earn the money coping with the in-house politics of the U.S. Soccer Federation. The new coach has been openly critical of federation officials in the past, and sources say he personally detests a number of members on the federation's executive committee.

But Arena claims he won't tolerate interference from U.S. Soccer's hierarchy. His contract calls for total autonomy, preventing the federation from meddling in national-team affairs.

"I'll issue a little warning to U.S. Soccer, particularly the staff of U.S. Soccer," said D.C. United President Kevin Payne during Arena's formal hiring. "You better buckle your seat belt, because Bruce knows that to get the big stuff right, you've got to get all the little stuff right first."

Arena's first order of team business was to call in players for an exhibition against Australia in San Jose, Calif. The new coach hopes to work with at least five of his former D.C. United players: rookie midfielder Ben Olsen, veteran midfielders Richie Williams and Tony Sanneh and defenders Eddie Pope and Carlos Llamosa. Bob Bradley, whose Chicago Fire defeated United 2-0 in the Major League Soccer Cup, will rejoin Arena on the national team but continue to coach the Fire. Arena is expected to emphasize youth, giving the country's more promising young players international experience before qualifying begins for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Many soccer enthusiasts consider Arena, 47, the best American coach ever. Arena won five NCAA championships at Virginia and the first two MLS championships with United. His MLS regular-season record is 60-36.

"The slate is clean for Bruce Arena," says U.S. Soccer Secretary-General Hank Steinbrecher. "This is a historic time. For the first time in our history, we have a four-year cycle to prepare for a World Cup with all the pieces in place for success: a high-level Division I professional league, a strong federation, strong sponsor support and media awareness.

"All the pieces are in place as we progress toward our ultimate goals of Project 2010, to host and compete for a World Cup championship in 12 years."

RELATED ARTICLE: Arrogant and Aloof, or Just No-Nonsense?

As Bruce Arena bids farewell to his Major League Soccer career and begins as coach of the U.S. national team, American fans had better get used to some big changes: Arena doesn't do things half-heartedly; this is a man with a vision.

For one thing, Arena is his own man, unlike predecessor Steve Sampson, who got the job because of his longtime connections with former U.S. Soccer boss Alan Rothenberg. It's hard to imagine Arena making the same mistakes Sampson did at the end of his tenure. Sampson, who resigned after the U.S. team went winless at the World Cup, was accused of overcoaching and losing touch with his players. He also had a habit of airing his complaints about certain team members to the media.

Arena is said to be a player's coach who listens to his team. You won't see Arena wearing a suit on the sideline. The Brooklyn native knows that soccer is not rocket science. "You always know where you are with Bruce," says one observer. "He has a bad temper, and sometimes the players complain about him, but every player knows where they stand. He treats them professionally and not like kids."

Those on the U.S. team who have never played under Arena will welcome his professional attitude toward training. His practice sessions with D.C. United always were punctual and brief; his chalkboard sessions rarely lasted more than 20 minutes. Most days the players were on their way home by 12:30 p.m.

Perhaps Arena's greatest gift is the ability to spot talent and mold a team. At the University of Virginia and with D.C. United, Arena's teams always were enjoyable to watch, playing a free-flowing but disciplined possession game.

Arena can appear brusque at times, especially with the media. He does not suffer fools lightly, and pity the reporter who asks what he considers a stupid question. Some say he is arrogant and aloof, and D.C. United was despised by some in MLS because of its success. Conceded one club official: "We carry a certain swagger."