The 2020 Tokyo Games may not be until next year but U.S. Soccer is reportedly in talks with a former MLS head coach to manage the U-23 National Team.
According to The Athletic, U.S. Soccer is in talks with Jason Kreis to become the U-23’s next manager. The 46-year-old is currently working with 2020 MLS expansion side Inter Miami as part of their technical staff.
Kreis managed Real Salt Lake from 2007-13, NYCFC in 2015, and Orlando City from 2016-18. During his time with the three clubs, he posted a 145-83-131 record. As a player, Kreis won 14 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team while also playing 11 seasons in MLS with FC Dallas and RSL.
Kreis could work both roles if hired by U.S. Soccer, according to the report.
A training camp for the U.S. U-23’s is expected to meet in the coming weeks while the Concacaf Qualifying Tournament has been tentatively scheduled for October. No official roster has been announced but plenty of names have been linked to the U-23’s after being left out of Gregg Berhalter’s latest USMNT squad for March friendlies.
we are behind the curve. last cycle they played games this time of year at U23.
Tough job to fill. Short term, coaching a tourney basically. The situation lines up for Kreis, i get it.
Thought it was a good concept when the MNT assistant coach was the u23 head coach. (The concept, not the person, Herzog).
Who is the MNT assistant anyway?
One of Greg’s assistants is Josh Wolff for sure….don’t know any of the other names!
Coach is important but having the best players avaible in the age pool is of absolute importance if you want to succeed. This age group is not so much about development but being ready to launch a successful professional career. Sadly, this is when many US players fail to launch and hit a ceiling. Look at past Olympic qualifying rosters and contrast with where those players are five years later. Just a handful of players actually succeed beyond a MLS roster spot.
thank you for clarifying the ‘on paper’ part – b/c he’s barely a winning coach based on record, merely 14 NT appearances with 1 goal and won his only MLS cup a decade ago and has floundered ever since. i’ve always felt he was a guy that satiated everyone’s desire for a good american coach so they all turned a blind eye to these realities. generally unimpressive for me….
So your expectation is a .700 MLS winning percentage, 3 MLS Cups in the last decade, and 50+ National Team Caps? Who exactly is that guy?
MLS is all about parity, there aren’t teams that consistently have a large winning record every season, if any, and just because you play for the national team does not mean you can coach. Playing well and coaching well are completely different skill sets. How many top tier coaches in any sport were top tier players?
i agree that you dont have to be a good player to be a good coach, but what im saying is that none of his “qualifications” by themselves are impressive. only 1 MLS cup a decade ago….otherwise nothing to hang his hat on as a coach (for me). my point about bringing up his NT stats was that its laughable to even mention given how feeble they are. if you’re saying we need someone to check boxes then sure. but lets hold ourselves to somewhat higher standards no?
On paper, the federation could do worse. MLS title, winning record, MNT alum., etc. He checks all the boxes. I’m unfamiliar with his tactics or whether or not he has a reputation for developing young players, so there’s that. I’d be curious of all the available coaches and where Kreis stacked up, but again, we could have done worse…Bob Gansler worse.