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Claudio Reyna on American soccer: “We’re far too arrogant”

As a former U.S. Men’s National Team star, Claudio Reyna was left very, very disappointed by what he saw from the U.S. Men’s National Team throughout the World Cup cycle, but the NYCFC executive wasn’t fully surprised by the U.S. team’s failure.

Reyna took aim at the mentality possessed by many throughout U.S. Soccer, saying that those in charge haven’t led the U.S. to real progress in quite some time. Reyna compared the American soccer mindset with that of those around the world and, in his experience, he’s found something wrong with the behavior throughout the U.S. landscape.

“Our approach and our behavior to the sport here — to coaching, to everything, is just wrong,” Reyna told Goal on Tuesday. “We’re far too arrogant. We’re far too obnoxious. We are egotistical having never won anything or done anything, and that’s not the case around the world.

“We have coaches who think they’re better than they are,” he added. “Across the board, we just think we do things better than we really do. I mean in every way. Whether it’s broadcasting, or media, coaching, we’re just not as far along as we tell ourselves we are. We need a little honesty, and hopefully this brought it. I think it’s far too late. I think we’ve been asleep at the wheel for a little bit too long.”

Reyna went on to say that American coaches can learn a lot from others scattered throughout the world. He says those within the country don’t understand the day-to-day work being put in by those in countries succeding on the international level and, until they do, things won’t change.

The NYCFC executive also said that many are confusing investment with progress and that throwing money at the problem will not be enough to help the U.S. overcome the deficiencies currently plaguing the system.

“Until we realize that  — that we’re not as good as we think we are at all levels — then I think we’re going to continue being what we are,” Reyna said, “which is mediocre.”

Comments

  1. Claudio for President is NOT what we need. Maybe for technical director. That is probably the most important role to be filled. How was JK successful in his role with Germany? everyone credits the German sides success to his technical director Joachim Low NOT to JK. The President needs soccer background to trust the TD and help implement the system from the ground up (Academy level). The President needs to keep sponsor $$ coming in and attract top talent from baseball, football, basketball, etc. We produce world class athletes – few of the top ones end up on the pitch. That will be the most impact to have.

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    • Regarding JK and Low Low was between jobs and had a so-so managerial career–good some places, lousy at some others. Klinsmann met him at a coaching clinic and they shared the same philosophy, so JK gave him the j9ob as his assistant with the German National team. So, it’s not like Low was this shining star that Klinsmann was lucky to get. It was more the German team that made Low, not the other way around.

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    • As Gary said Low was an assistant coach, not the technical director. If anything you could say JK was the technical director (in charge of the vision across levels) and Low was the manager (implementing that vision with the tactical details on the pitch).

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  2. Isn’t Man City really in control of NYCFC and look at their progress in the short time they been around, so I think he might have some knowledge of how to run things

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    • I wonder just how important Gulati is. He’s the public face, but outside of hiring and firing coaches, along with the board, how much is he involved in day to day developments? So, I think a better role for Reyna is to be the technical director for men’s soccer and Martino as coach. People complain like hell about Gulati, but his choice of Klinsmann in 2011 was popular, his firing of Klinsmann was popular, and his picking Arena was almost unanimously hailed. And the women have certainly done well. If we get Reyna and Martino for the men, does it matter much who is in Gulati’s position?

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  3. Adding to Reyna’s observation, I think the American soccer culture and system is arrogant as a facade to it’s true mentality: insecure.
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    Far too many fans, and coaches appear to be insecure and feeble in the face of criticism or honest observations. Hell, we see it run rampant on this board for the past 9-10 years I’ve been visiting. Any dissenting opinion about the quality, or state of MLS/USMNT is met with embarrassing contempt and faux outrage.
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    Arrogance, sure. But insecurity? Much more prevalent. The Arena-doctrine highlights that veiled arrogance that’s likely insecurity.

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    • He was not developed by UVa or Arena. I first saw him play when he was 17 against Panama in an Olympic qualifier in Dublin,Ohio. The result US 10- Panama 1 with Reyna showing all the class of an established professional straight out of high school. He was a very special player. Reyna for President!

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  4. Reyna was also previously US Youth Technical Director during which time he implemented the coaching standards for youth soccer and the helped reorganize ODP into the Development Academy system we have today. Given the talent in the current 15-21 year old age range I would call that a win but we went thru some growing pains for the first four or five years after switching to DA as seen in the 1990-1994 birth years.

    As both a player and front office executive there are not a lot of US players/coaches/executives with his combination of experience both overseas and at home.

    He is definitely someone who should be part of the solution in some way. He is a legend and should be listened too.

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    • Excellent. Reyna’s changes do appear to be showing progress. That along with MLS academies funding their youth teams (kids in MLS DA teams don’t have to pay). The MLS teams have been getting serious about development talent for their senior teams.

      His interview on Empire of Soccer illustrated his focus on developing professionals. The non-MLS DA clubs are happy to develop college players. While college players can become quality international players, I just don’t believe that college is the best pathway to developing future internationals.

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  5. Good thing that waaaaaaa guy is not around anymore otherwise he’d call Reyna gay Mexican woman for disrespecting the team… and somebody better check on that french dude. I don’t thinks his sensibilities are strong enough for this level of criticism.

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    • Tim Howard, MB and BA …: do you want to add any f.king comment here, I think you know now how to keep your f.. mouth shut for the rest of your life. It is badly hurt for the fans, do you know that f..shits.

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  6. Amen!!!! Arrogant and thin skinned. The soccer media in the U.S. was somewhat complicit by failing to regularly question brutal performances and questionable tactics, but most of the blame needs to be on the players and coaches who acted as if they didn’t need to put in the effort.

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