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Sunil Gulati will not resign, still mulling over running for new term as U.S. Soccer president

 

Sunil Gulati will not be stepping down as U.S. Soccer president and,despite the U.S. Men’s National Team’s failure to make the World Cup, he remains undecided on his future with the U.S. Soccer program.

Speaking on a conference call with reports on Friday, Gulati stated that he doens’t plan to step down from his role as U.S. Soccer president. In addition, Gulati added that he has yet to make a decision on whether or not he will run again. In the weeks prior to the USMNT’s defeat to Trinidad & Tobago, Gulati reached out to people within the U.S. Soccer community about endorsing him for president, but the longtime U.S. Soccer executive says he will now wait a few weeks before deciding if he will pursue reelection.

“I take full responsibility. No, I don’t plan to resign,” Gulati said. “It’s not the right day for me to talk about my personal future plans in terms of the federation’s presidency.”

Gulati says he understands the frustrations of those that do want him out. He understands that missing the World Cup is unacceptable in any circumstances and that he bears some measure of responsibility for that.

However, despite the present and past failures, Gulati says he believes he has a part to play in the future, especially with a World Cup bid for 2022 on the table. Gulati has 60 days until presidency nominations need to be submitted and about 120 days until the board meeting that will determine the next president.

“We have a lot of things on our agenda including a World Cup bid that is due at the end of March and a decision in June,” he said. “I don’t plan to (resign) and it’s not the case that most of the people around the world do that. Most coaches do, but it’s not the case that most presidents do, and I’m not planning to.

“Because of Where the sport is now and the role I played in it and the role I believe I can play going forward if I choose to run,” he added. “Plus we have the World Cup bid. The sport is in a very, very different place than it was 10 years ago or 30 years ago when I first got involved. It’s all of that.”

Gulati says that he, like many in the American soccer community, have read about potential challengers, like Steve Gans and Erik Wynalda. However, he doesn’t know if their nominations are official or if they ever will be.

For now, Gulati is focusing on emerging from the “shock to the system” currently facing the U.S. Soccer program.

“There are things you would do differently,” Gulati said That’s probably true for all of us and it’s certainly true for me. The number of places that one can make substantive changes or decisions in my role are relatively limited, but they’re big decisions. The same is true for the players or the coach. Any time you don’t achieve the results you want, you look back and you would do some things differently.

“I don’t think I want to get into specifics because quite often they’re personnel decisions so I don’t think I’m going to get into any specifics, but I would certainly do some things differently.”

Comments

  1. It’s time for the USSF to wake up and realize the American soccer scene has changed. They need to restructure their organization. I realize that Gulati has done well for us by integrating himself into FIFA and by bringing us in money. At the same time, player development, coaching development, and ultimately the product on the field has plummeted. Gulati, or someone like him, should be in a CFO kind of role. There needs to be a separate position of a Technical Director, who is charged with hiring coaches, player development strategy, and an overall vision for the future of the on-field product. Both of these should then be under a President, who will have to balance the relationship with MLS with the needs of the national teams.

    The relationship of USSF with MLS is really the biggest question. Right now, the MLS owners and commissioner are making all the decisions for USSF. This is a problem because these two entities have different goals. The MLS guys have done a remarkable job growing the league in a patient and calculated way, but they need to realize that MLS is NOT on the same level as the biggest Euro leagues, and won’t be for at least 20 years if ever. And that’s ok.

    The MLS owners arrogantly thought that throwing big money at our best USMNT players to get them to come back to the USA would not harm their play on the field. Well guess what, the whole world just watched how wrong you were. Our best players need to be playing overseas, pushing to get on the field every week. MLS needs to accept that it is a feeder league for the big Euro leagues. There is no shame in this! MLS needs to change its ridiculous rules for transfers and let our guys go when it is time for them to push for the next level. If not, then all the best American kids will begin to bypass MLS altogether.

    Reply
    • jb– Some very insightful comments. Very well observed. I think it would be helpful if SBI (or somebody) would perform some in-depth analysis and enumerate what the full scope of the USSF and its leadership actually is, and connect it in a quantifiable way to the budget (which isn’t actually very big, and likely to be smaller without the WC berth). SImply saying “fire Gulati” is the popular opinion these days — and while I think turning over the leadership is probably a good idea it doesn’t say much about how we actually improve. As you have alluded to, I suspect the real problems may involve how the USSF leadership is organized. Simply plugging somebody else into Gulati’s job is probably unlikely to change much. Particularly when you consider there are many things that Gulati has done and continues to do well on the financial/managment side.But his influence on the actual product on the field seems too high, and he is rightly criticized for the competitive failures. I just feel like the average US soccer fan – even the *well-informed* one- doesn’t really actually have much information on the actual operations and activities of the USSF. Would be great to know more.

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  2. My name is Alfred Randall and I want to lead US Football into the future. End the acronym and call it what it is. Pro/rel is the only way. End pay to play forever. Any player that qualifies as a US citizen is welcome in our NT program just like everyone one else is welcome in our country. Get rid of the dead weight in USSF. Hold the NCAA accountable for their gross negligence in the college game. If high schools and colleges want to compete in football then it will be under FIFA rules. Let all of our citizens be recognized in our programs (the rich are just as welcome as the poor are). Bring Jack Warner to justice. Evaluate the value of being a member CONCACAF. Explore the option of being a member of CONMEBOL. Explore the option of forming a new confederation. Hire an experienced world class manager for the MNT.
    Thank you,
    Alf

    Reply
    • It is simply impractical to leave CONCACAF to join CONMEBOL. You are talking about adding thousands of additional miles and many more hours spend flying — mind you, in some cases criss-crossing the Andes (hello Alive and the Brazilian plane crash). Second, you have some brutal conditions, having to play at altitude in places like Quito and La Paz or the searing heat of Colombia. Third, their qualification is both a grind and incredibly competitive. Chile, was 2 time defending Copa America champions, and they couldn’t qualify. If you want to improve the ranking, playing in the Copa on a consistent basis would help. It’s crazy to leave CONCACAF to go to a federation that not only makes qualification less likely, but it starts out as unlikely. Are we better than Brazil, no. Are we better than Uruguay, no. Are we better than Colombia, no. Are we better than Argentina, no. Are we better than Chile, no. Are we better than Peru, probably. So you want us to leave and enter a program where we are no better than the sixth best team in a region, but possibly worse. And if you think CONCACAF venues on the road are tough, CONMEBOL is an entirely different level with the conditions and the gamesmanship.

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  3. Gulati stays? lmfao

    This is the white collar loser who brought us Jurgen Klinsmann, gave him control of everything, paid him ridiculous amounts of money…all with the goal of 2018 being a big USMNT year…and here we are

    and Gulati stays? what a effing joke

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  4. His decision to bring back Bruce and failure to address other systemic problems in the country cost us a spot at the World Cup, which means Sunil is now in the way of making a profit in the future if he’s still pres making these kinds of bad decisions. The WC bid can pretty much sell itself, too. Really, he’s just looking for excuses to stay.

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  5. Sunil os a econ and business guy and at this point given his time at ussf he has a lot of contacts throughout fifa and other confederations. His business acumen and betwork is useful. And perhaps whoever we get as the next president because Sunil is done could keep him around to consult on the money side of things and transfer his contacts/relationships with other federations.

    However, we need some with real professional soccer experience preferably as both a play and a coach as well as someone outside the ussf good ole boy network to make the actual soccer related decisions. Like a seperate Technical Director.

    Ideally, I’d like both the next president and technical director to have pro soccer experience at some level even if its just as a front office exec.

    We need real soccer people making the decisions instead of business guys onlycobsidering the money and taking qualification for granted because they can’t see the nuance between a team that was totally outclassed in Honduras but to them its ok because we gpt a point on dumb luck in the final minutes.

    Soccer pros can see the quality or lack of qualitu thru whats on the scorecard at the end of the match.

    Sunil couldnt. Next president and TD need to be able to tell this differnce.

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  6. He didnt want to hire Bruce..

    Nor his assistants..

    But he caved into the pressure and reacted to what he percieved as the mood surrounding the USMNT at the time of Arena’s hire..

    He went in a direction he thought was safe on many fronts and some of the senior players definetly had input..

    Realisfically, he and a few probably saw the real possibility of non qualification and have a contingency to check the reaction, weather the backlash and make gestures to placate the diehards and the talking heads..

    They (USSF, MLS/Garber, bean counters and the few true sponsors) probably see the non-qual and fan backlash as a positive..

    Theyre in the catbird seat.. NCAA soccer is a non-entity.. No Paul Brown Al Davis or Steinbrenner..

    Michael Jordan (Donovan) went on sabbatical..

    And Beckenbauer (Arena) just got his ass whipped..

    An outside consulting firm? Ok.. Who’ll do that? Sports people? Billy Beane types?

    Despite NBA/NHL gate reciepts in the domestic league, the USWNT and the aforentioned Michael Jordan, the sport just doesnt move the meter in this country in terms of public consciousness..

    To be honest Gulati, Garber and the architects of the USWNT have done well to push this thing as far as they could..

    And pay for play isnt going anywhere..

    Theyve got some pieces to counter it.. But if there isnt a push to change the identity of this sport in the public consciousness.. To make it water cooler conversation.. To get the big name sponsorships or associations it just aint going happen with the current influencers..

    Nobody cares about Michael Bradley and Tim Howard..

    And a large portion of the fan base hates the fact that theres a league team in New York City and Atlanta..

    Major.. Major problems with a sport that has to stand on its own now that the next World Cup out the window..

    Theyd better hope that a joint bid brings them redemption or this will remain in the minds of many in this country a soft sport played by kids

    Reply
    • The Squad–
      Again, some excellent points you make. To address one of them, the “preferred” outside consultant would almost certainly be Deloitte. They have an excellent global sports consulting group with a specific specialty in soccer. Most who study the business side of the game would agree that their annual reports on global soccer finance are “must read” material (though they can be extremely expensive!). Not sure how US Soccer would fund a project like this (or a more management-focused team McKinsey, etc.), but at least to my knowledge, there are companies and individuals who could provide meaningful help based on very specific experience.

      Reply
  7. Unfortunately, he has a lot of support in the areas that matter financially….USSF doesn’t have the view of Germany, etc….It’s business….Sunil brings in money….Unfortunately, spending that money wisely isn’t being worked out as of yet….I’m afraid they will go with a safe, familiar coach they are “comfortable” with who “knows” American soccer, meaning status quo as usual….Unless they actually have a real discussion about it and look at all aspects of the problem, actually wanting to fix it….Sunil’s excuse was a ball rolling a few inches either way…Meaning he’s comfortable with how things are now….Sad

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  8. I came here to read the comments. And I don’t have an opinion on him staying or going.

    Didn’t like JK staying second session, correctly. But I love the money that US soccer is rolling in now ( maybe that is from us supporters ).

    One thing for the ones that want him gone. Remember this is big business and don’t forget to factor in getting the World Cup too. You can say it is an excuse to keep him, but he went to his strong suit to try to save his hide like anyone would.

    We owe him nothing, but we own ourselves the best chance for us to be happy and successful

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  9. Like it or not, Sunil is going to be around in one capacity or another for a few more years. He’s on the FIFA council until 2022(?), and is right in the middle of the 2026 WC bid. I’m fine with that – he has done a lot for US Soccer – but I absolutely think we need someone else as president come February.

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  10. Im sure he thinks he has a lot of reasons that he should stay but the bottom line is that he kept Klinsmann and that failed, he finally fired then hired Arena… resulting it the biggest failure in US Soccer history. Now, he may get to pick the next coach and I dont want to see that. He might just hire Klinsmann, who knows.

    We need a clean start and that ,means no Sunil. You have shown that you have no honor and Arena at least has. Not sure if he was told resign or be fired but either way, he’s gone. Sunil, grow a pair you little weasel and you do the right thing… resign now

    Reply
    • Okay, I’ll go there. JK may not be well liked. But JK would sure as hell qualified the team for WC’18. Period. With that stated, it’s time to clean house. (And, no. I do not want JK rehired.)

      Reply
      • JK had totally lost the locker room by the end – I don’t think he would have fared well for the rest of the campaign.

      • Reply to Silver-
        From comments by Bedoya, Johnson, and Cameron I think Bruce managed to do that as well.

      • “JK had totally lost the locker room by the end – I don’t think he would have fared well for the rest of the campaign.”

        And it’s becoming quite evident that’s a result of having soft players, weak internal fortitude and lack of ambition or desire. JK had his faults, but the ethos of what he saw wrong with our program, our direction, our structure (in the domestic league, too) is becoming more and more evident there was merit.

        Our players suck, unfortunately. Their attitudes suck. Their development has sucked, and a complete overhaul and new identity is needed or we’re going to repeat the same mistakes. Far too many subscribe to Arena’s xenophobic nonsense and are immune to change. Well, we all will watch the 2018 World Cup and reflect on whether or not we need to throw the baby out with the bath water or opt to choose “comfort” like far too many of our National Team players in a feeble sign of things to come.

  11. #OccupyUSSF until both he and Arena resign.

    More than 72 hours have passed and those two clowns are still around. Ridiculous.

    Reply
    • Wrong. Our involvement in Vietnam began under Truman and was continued under Eisenhower. It was a bipartisan mess, supported by Presidents and members of Congress from both parties. SMH

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  12. RT, I think that the WC Bid year should read “2026” and not “2022”.

    Which is an excuse that many of us thought that he’d cling to to explain not stepping down…

    Reply

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