We are 13 matches into the relationship between Jürgen Klinsmann and the United States National Team. A relationship that many believed was going to begin a long time ago.
Back in 2006, Klinsmann was the frontrunner to be named head coach of the U.S. squad, but negotiations broke down, and Bob Bradley was named manager of the club in December 2006, after the U.S. struggled in the 2006 World Cup.
Bradley reeled off an impressive run for the U.S. before being relieved of his duties in July 2011. He led the USMNT to a 43-25-12 record, which is the second best of any U.S. Men’s National Team manager. His accomplishments included a second place finish at the 2009 Confederations Cup and the U.S. team sitting atop its first-round group at the 2010 World Cup.
But Bradley was often criticized for his bland offensive strategy and loyalty to certain players. In an ESPN article David Hirshey described Bradley’s coaching style as having an “almost pathological inability to allow flair and joy into the American game. His myopic, turgid vision led Bradley back to the core American attributes — speed, physicality, athleticism — a set of principles that left little room for players looking to express themselves with the ball at their feet.”
Enter Klinsmann, who the U.S. hired right after releasing Bradley.
Before taking the U.S. job, Klinsmann led the German National squad in 2004 where he racked up a record of 20-8-6. He coached Bayern Munich next, but fell out with management a year later and has worked, most recently as a consultant with MLS’s Toronto FC.
Hirshey wrote, in the previous mentioned article that with Klinsmann, “the U.S. finally has a coach with no ties to a college system that has produced an assembly line of brawny, hard-working, but not exceptionally skilled players.”
So how has Klinsmann faired thus far? And how does it compare with Bradley’s start?
Through his first 13 games, Klinsmann has compiled a 6-5-2 record, winning only one of his first 6 matches at the helm. But Klinsmann and the U.S. have turned it on as of late, winning their first four matches of 2012 including a 5-1 drubbing of Scotland, and just the second time the squad has opened the year with four straight wins. The
U.S. followed up the Scotland match with a humbling loss to Brazil and a disappointing tie with Canada.
For Bradley, he opened his career as manager with a 10-2-1 record, not suffering his first loss until his 12th match.
Obviously, its not just about the start these coaches have had will define their legacy’s, but Bradley clearly enjoyed much more early success than Klinsmann has out the gate. The U.S. squad scored nearly twice as many goals under Bradley through 13 games than it has under Klinsmann, while taking roughly the same amount of shots. Is the U.S. building to that more dynamic offense we hoped to see under Klinsmann? If we look at the Scotland match, then yes. If we look at Brazil and Canada, then its still a work in progress.
The one area where the U.S. has seen an advantage under Klinsmann has been in corner kicks, attempting 23 more.
Following the Scotland win, the head manager shared his vision for Team USA:
Step by step, what we are trying to develop is a fast-paced game. There’s tempo in it. There’s one-touch combinations throughout midfield, as fast as possible, finding forwards up there, having pace, buildup from the back, no long balls. I think we saw some of
those elements today. Obviously it’s a bit more difficult to play that way against Brazil or Italy, but I think the players, they understand more and more what we’re trying to achieve.
The U.S. has already taken significant steps from where they were last year under Klinsmann. Friday’s match against Antigua & Barbuda will be their next chance to prove they are coming together.
Below is a match-by-match breakdown of the first 13 contests by both Klinsmann and Bradley as USMNT head coach:
Klinsmann First 13 Games: (Record: 6-5-2)
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Bradley’s First 13 Games: (Record: 10-2-1)
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