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Laurent Blanc, Sam Allardyce address USMNT job rumors

Laurent Blanc and Sam Allardyce became the first foreign managers linked to the U.S. Men’s National Team job earlier this week, and both have taken the chance to address the rumors early.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Blanc said the rumors are just that: rumors. The former Paris Saint-Germain manager has been out of coaching since departing the club in 2016 and admitted he isn’t ready to jump back into the game.

“It’s a rumor which has arisen in recent days. Honestly, I don’t know any more about it. There will undoubtedly be others,” Blanc told reporters. “Firstly, we’d need to talk about it more in depth.

“What I’m interested in is to try and have a good project. If a board member offers me a challenge like that, I would do it with great pleasure. I’m not ready. I wasn’t five or six months ago.”

Allardyce, meanwhile, was a bit more open to the idea after revealing he wasn’t interested in the Leicester City job on Tuesday.

“If I ever go back into football, an international position again might be of interest to me,” he said, according to talkSPORT. “Whether that is the USA, who knows.

“If we got to that stage where we there was an interview, you would assess whether you have a chance of being successful with that national side and, if you do, is that a better challenge for me at this stage of my life?”

The U.S. is unlikely to make any sort of move for a permanent manager for quite some time as things shake out in the lead up to and after the World Cup next summer. As for now, the U.S. is expected to appoint an interim manager to take charge of an upcoming friendly against Portugal.

Comments

  1. Maybe we can get the “brains” behind the Klinsmann led Germany squad … Joachim Low? After this World Cup … he might want a different challenge and see if he can get a non-traditional soccer power to a World Cup finals? Surely he’ll want a change of scenery after winning two World Cups with Germany 😀

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  2. We need someone experience in youth program, understands the “Americas”, demands more games & tournaments for USNT. Bielsa, Peckerman, or Serb in Chicago.

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    • Its really pointless to play games outside of international windows, with the exception of this November I can’t think of a time when we haven’t had matches on those dates. We haven’t done the Copa America/Gold Cup double for awhile (2007) and maybe the roster is wide enough (not very deep) to attempt it again. Playing games outside the window means a limited number of players available and 3rd and 4th team squads from obscure soccer nations. Sure we could play Bahrain in April but what is that going to teach us.

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      • Reason USNT stayed behind while mexico progress. mexico has correct preparation than USNT before Qualifiers. USSF has to stop thinking in MLS’ season & focus USNT players get right experience like going: Copa America, mini tours in South America & Central America, having under 23’s base ready for the Olympics with at least Senior10 caps. Plus, 3rd or 4th rate is good for: first cap to youth players, testing out new formations, pairing new players, see team chemistry, players have experience playing outside the region like different atmosphere or different weather conditions. Remember, it’s was 4th rate team (T&T) that beat the USNT in last game Qualifiers.

  3. I vote no way. If you thought Klinsmann had a low opinion of US players in MLS can you imagine this French guy? He sounds like a coach that can take a top flight team, manage it, and not screw it up. Not the situation of the USA Nat team. We need a coach that realizes he needs to start from the bottom and develop a top flight team. And that with the exception of a few, he will have to identify mostly new younger players ….. with none are named Zusi, Beasley, Omar or Wondo. I dont think hes the guy for the job. I do like the fact though that he has no ties to the current team and if he’s not the one, find somebody like him. Also, more than likely he’s familiar with a certain PSG player that is currently lighting it up on our U17 team and who’s father was a very famous player himself (no not Klinsmann). If so, that’s is a plus as we need to start integrating our younger team stars now.

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    • “I vote no way. If you thought Klinsmann had a low opinion of US players in MLS can you imagine this French guy?”
      —-
      With good reason. You’re a part of the issue, not Klinsmann. Stop insulating yourself from valid criticism, please.

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  4. If you read the France Football article from which the last SBI article based this rumor, nowhere did it say that he had expressed interest. And honestly, the guy could have his pick of coaching gigs in Europe, so why would he take on a 5-year project on the other side of the Atlantic? I think he could do a good job for the USMNT, I just don’t think it’s the right opportunity for him, unless he is looking for a very long term project (and the pay makes the distance from home more palatable).

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    • Several million more dollars in his bank account each year, a chance to live in a nice place like LA, and the only real pressure being to qualify for the 2022 WC (which despite this latest disaster, the US are still favored/likely to do). That’s not a bad gig at all.

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