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Cabrera out as U.S. Under-17 coach

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

There's been another coaching change in the U.S. Soccer youth tree under the Jurgen Klinsmann regime.

Months after Thomas Rongen and Mike Matkovich made way for Tab Ramos and Richie Williams on the Under-20 and U-18 levels, respectively, U.S. Soccer and U-17 national team coach Wilmer Cabrera have mutually agreed to part ways, according to a federation press release.

Cabrera had guided the U-17s since 2007, including trips to the 2009 and 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cups. This past summer, the U.S. U-17s made it out of the group stage to the Round of 16, where they lost to eventual third-place finisher Germany, 4-0. He also led the U-17s to a championship at last month's Nike International Friendlies, where the United States beat Brazil and Turkey and tied France.

Cabrera won't officially be out until the end of the month, after he coaches a group of U-17s during a trip to Turkey. U.S. Soccer says that a search for the next coach to head the U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla., is underway.

What do you think of this development?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Some great results with, as I understand, some off the radar picks. He replaced a lot of mainstays in that age group – correct me if I am wrong. If I am right it makes me worry that U.S. Soccer, in some respects, is still a “club” for favored players and their parents. Look no further than ODP for confirmation on that point. But eventually talent will out, I hope.

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  2. I always thought it was one of Jurgen’s stipulations of coaching the USMNT that he have quite a lot of control over the youth system. Is that wrong?

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  3. If the USA is moving to a 4-3-3 Dutch formation, there is a good candidate at DCU’s Academy. Not a long track record, but Soony Siloy came with good reviews.

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  4. Agreed…He and Rongen both liked to publically rub their players faces in it. Cabrera had Gyau and Renkin blacklisted from the Youth teams because they turned down Bradenton. I suspect the same thing took place with Subotic. F those guys…

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  5. Those are some valid points. However, IMG is not conducive to developing players because they (the players) are the kings down there and they know it. They have no competition to push them to get better.

    Secondly, the sad part is that we have the resources to become a legitimate soccer nation but we have IDEA or plan how to get there.

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  6. I guess with Reyna and Ramos in the US Nats coaching fold, simply being hispanic was no longer a unique enough item on the resume. Cabrera made some pretty hard comments blaming player’s shortcomings for the failure to advance far (basically blaming them for not having any desire or the necessary courage). That coupled with his tough discipline (and more problematically his openness in discussing discipline issues regarding individual players with the press) contributed to his fall from high esteem from the US bosses.

    I don’t think it was missed that he used public humiliation of players to excuse the poor results when they happened. There is a very important tenet in leading people, praise in public and criticize in private. He failed in that.

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  7. Maybe it was Cabrera’s decision. He’s already proven himself with the US-17’s. He cetainly could earn more and further his career as the Director of a DA academy or in another position.

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  8. Is “real” soccer a game with 10 field players attempting to kick a round ball into the opponents net and keep it out of their own, with one special player able to use his hands to keep the ball out or the net? Or is that just the regular soccer without the “real” added to it?

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  9. Cabrera was very tough on discipline so if that makes him a tool then so be it.

    Right now our system of development is not professional in the least. There is zero vision. The blind leading the blind.

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  10. Visionary? Please stop it with Dev. Acad. talk. It is an amatuer operation with a few real professional guys overlooking the show

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  11. Wilmer did a good job. Did you see the last u17 team play in December? They were class.

    Wilmer did a great job with them but it was the two coaches that had them before who molded this team and guess what? They are gone too

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  12. Soccerroo…why should we worry about a formation when we still lack the technique, understanding and professionalism to play “real” soccer.

    Do you think our full team is playing “real” soccer?

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  13. Interesting, can’t tell if this was a firing or a decision from Cabrera to move on. It seems like it must be more of a decision by Cabrera (perhaps he wanted more pay?) because he is still being allowed to coach through January. If it was a firing, the person leaves right away.

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  14. I’m not sure what team others were watching but Cabrera was not doing well at all, and he certainly didn’t have his kids playing as a TEAM.

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  15. Claudio Reyna?

    The bottom line is why do some people think Klinsmann makes all these decisions, it’s not like Bradley did.
    Klinsmann gets credit for like freaking German teenagers getting called into our youth teams, as if that never happened before. I even remember people praising him when our U-17s did well against Brazil a few months ago. It’s f’ing bizarre…

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  16. I wasn’t impressed with the U17s in the u17 wc. They came in 2nd in a low caliber group, got their heads handed to them by Germany while Mexico won. The u17s had good technical skills but didn’t play as a team.

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  17. I have no problem giving Tab Ramos a shot at the U-20, Rongen needed to go, he is a GREAT scout & US soccer should keep him on to find gems in Europe or South America that might have US ties whether thru parents or grand parents or being born in US but to foreign parents & the type of player that might now live abroad playing the game… Better yet an MLS team should hire him to scout players in South & Central America & any in Europe that MLS teams can afford….

    He had at worst the 2nd best U-20 team the US has seen & arguably the best 1 but hard to argue when they failed to make the WC… He needed to beat Guatemala, I know GUA did make it to the Round of 16 & won 1 game but they were like -10 goals coming out of that group, even if in Guatemala should of won that game & give Kitchen, Gale Boss, Rowe, Wood, Gyau, Agudelo, Garza, Sarkodie, Valentin & maybe who knows Pelosi and Vijev a shot…..

    If they replace him someone good it will be okay but if this is simply USSF not wanting him for the sake of not wanting him then it is a VERY bad move, hope Klinsmann just wanted him to adapt the basics of possession & ball pressure which is kind of what those kids were playing, Cabrera was finally seeing some great results.

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  18. Cabrera seemed to be doing a good job. Hopefully either Cabrera has another opportunity that he has decided to take or there is already a replacement in line, regardless of who selected them. If they are just letting Cabrera go without someone ready to take over this seems pretty foolish. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

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  19. I know Williams and Porter were more of Reynas picks and i love those but the firing of Cabrera and the hiring of Ramos is questionable to me and i just assumed Jurgen was responsible because of the big deal about his youth overhaul i have been hearing

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  20. Weird.

    On one hand, it’s hard to believe this is a firing and not a simple parting of ways for Cabrera to head elsewhere.

    But on the other hand, Gulati’s farwell to Cabrera seemed oddly cold. So did Cabrera’s final words — “I’ve enjoyed my time with the U-17s, but my journey with U.S. Soccer will be coming to an end,” said Cabrera. “I am looking forward to the next stage of my coaching career.”

    So, regardless of the reason for the change, it doesn’t seem like we’ll be hearing from Cabrera for awhile.

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  21. I would guess the more is a new job but I guess Reyna could be looking at this as an opportunity to develope the young players in the 4-3-3 system. I believe the u-17’s are a year round academy program that brings in some outside player for big tournaments. So it would be good for them to be trained in that system.

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  22. Like several posters I thought Crabrera was doing a good job. It would be interesting to know if there was a “real” story and if so what it was. The changes since Klinsman took over indicate to me a much reduced role for Gulati and the Federation. He has almost complete control over the male national teams at all levels. two issues; does he have two much control and is he apread thin. If the men’s team and U-23s perform well and the entire structure is improved it will work. I wonder long term if the game plan is to let Klinsman be the director and someone else like Porter to be the head coach?

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  23. I thought the same thing but when you think about it i think it speaks of the improving youth soccer scene considering they are 15 and havent spent that much time with Cabrera

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  24. As I stated above, I think it may be incorrect to assume Klinsmann is behind all these moves whether it be hirings or leavings. I think it has more to do with Reyna and Gulati.

    That said, I have to imagine Cabrera might have something else lined up already. No idea what it might be but still.

    Also, I do like the idea of Oscar P. taking over but I think he’s pretty comfortable in Dallas.

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  25. Most of these haven’t be Jurgen’s coaching decisions. From my understanding, both Porter and Williams were suggested by Reyna. I’m not entirely sure how much say Jurgen has in all of these decisions. I’d actually imagine that Claudio Reyna and Sunil Gulati have more power when it comes to this.

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  26. Didnt the u17s also have more off the field issues with Cabrera with several kids being picked then sent home or suspended etc for disciplinary reasons?

    As for replacements wouldn’t Oscar P. from FC Dallas be the perfect fit? His Squads have been the poster children for the Dev Academies scoring the highest rating. In the program I believe.

    Also picking a Dev academy coach would send a strong signal to the club world that the best coaches in the Dev academy will be given more opportunity within the USSF.

    Klinsmann is a smart guy and visionary who tends to make decisions that have long term impact. I’m sure that is what we are seeing with this move…

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  27. WTF. He’s the only coach in the program I absolutely trust. This is either a major rift or a huge mistake. The U17s are cooking right now!

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  28. With Colombia’s national team coaching staff in limbo, perhaps he’s going to join their staff? Not as a head coach, obviously, but perhaps an assistant?

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