The jury is still out on Bob Bradley, many are calling for his head...... BUT...Aguire quits in light of "failure" by Mexico.
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Aguirre resigns as Mexico coach By STEPHEN WADE, AP Sports Writer
Javier Aguirre quit as Mexico's head coach three days after being eliminated by Argentina.
(Hassan Ammar/AP Photo) MEXICO CITY (AP)—Javier Aguirre has quit as Mexico coach, three days after the national team was knocked out of the World Cup in a 3-1 loss to Argentina in the round of 16.
It marked the fifth straight time that Mexico has been eliminated in the second round of the World Cup.
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More International Football Videos Aguirre said on Wednesday that he was “the person responsible” for the loss.
Mexico has only twice reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup—in 1970 and 1986, when it hosted the event.
Aguirre made the announcement at a packed news conference in Mexico City. The Mexico-born Aguirre was appointed 15 months ago for a second stint as Mexico coach. He also coached the team in the 2002 World Cup, but was replaced after Mexico was eliminated by the United States.
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
Americans begin World Cup autopsy By Michael Lewis
CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- If the United States is becoming more ingrained in the international soccer culture, no surer sign is the World Cup post-mortem.
Like every other team that failed to meet its aspirations, or at least its expectations, the Americans next will dissect what was done wrong and what must change.
* Will Bob Bradley return as coach or be replace him a high-profile foreign manager?
* When will Landon Donovan sign with Everton or another English Premier League club?
* Will the United States be able to find some goal-scoring options up front for future World Cups?
The Bradley issue seems paramount among most fans of U.S. soccer.
Previously, reaching the second round would have been considered grounds for automatic renewal of the coach's contract. But expectations grew quickly after the U.S. not only won Group C over an underachieving England side, but finished unbeaten as well.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati, the man who will decide Bradley's future, evaluated the former three-time club coach in Major League Soccer as having done "a very good job."
But was it good enough?
"The team is capable of more," Gualti said. "The players know it. I think Bob knows it. At that level, we are disappointed we didn't get to play another 90 minutes, at least."
With Bradley under contract until the end of the year, Gulati promised he will take his time making a decision.
Former U.S. international defender Alexi Lalas, a commentator for U.S. television at the World Cup and who fired Bradley when Lalas was the club's general manager at the MetroStars five years ago, thought Bradley did some things very well in the World Cup, He also question some of Bradley's choices.
"It is a very difficult decision," he said. "This is not a situation you can say he did a good job or a bad job. If there is a change, Sunil Gulati must be thoughtful on where we are going and whether we can find someone who can take what Bob Bradley has done and it us to the proverbial next level.
"If there is a change, this represents an opportunity for Sunil to have somebody new and different, to have someone to bring in a fresh pair of eyes and idea to continue what Bob Bradley has done."
Domestically, potential candidates include former U.S. international midfielder Dominic Kinnear (54 international appearances), who has directed the Houston Dynamo to two MLS Cup titles, and Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid, the only one to guide two different teams to MLS championships. Internationally, the name of former German international and national coach Juergen Klinsmann, who lives in the Los Angeles area and turned down the job in 2006, always surfaces.
It is not certain whether anyone of those mentioned wants the job or vice versa -- if Bradley does not return.
In leading the Americans to the top of its group, Bradley became somewhat a victim of his own success.
By finishing first, the United States had a much easier path to the semifinals against the likes of Ghana, Uruguay or South Korea instead of such traditional powers as Germany and Argentina.
"Where it is clearly not accomplished is, everyone associated with the program feels it was an opportunity missed -- a game we could have won and probably feel we should have won," Gulati said. "It was all in front of us. We started dreaming after the first round. Looking at the brackets and you start thinking about what is possible, and unfortunately we think about what could have been."
The United States chased the game throughout the first round, leading for a scant three minutes, and that was in injury time in the 1-0 win over Algeria. Bradley could not rectify the Americans' penchant for allowing early goals and requiring it to play from behind.
Conversely, he was able to rally the team in the second half, making for some of the most exciting first-round finishes in South Africa.
Some of Bradley's tactical moves, however, hampered the side.
With forward Charlie Davies not fully recovered from those near-fatal injuries he suffered as a passenger in a car accident in October, Bradley replaced his speed by selecting Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley. While Findley's speed at times created opportunities, his lack of finishing cost the United States in its 2-1 extra-time loss to Ghana.
Using central midfielder Ricardo Clark instead of Maurice Edu against Ghana also cost the Americans. Clark's giveaway in midfield led to Ghana's first goal in the fifth minute, and after he earned a yellow card shortly thereafter, Bradley was forced to replace pull him before the end of the first half, limiting his substitution options.
It has been more than two full World Cups since a forward, Brian McBride, scored for the United States, the first in a 2-0 triumph over Mexico in 2002.
Since then the United States has played eight full games and 832 minutes without its players selected for their scoring ability accomplished their main task.
Jozy Altidore, expected to carry the scoring load, certainly had his moments, but failed to score. The upside is that he is only 20-years-old and is still learning. The downside is that he must find a team -- whether his Spanish club Villarreal transfers him to a team willing to play him or loans him out to the right club.
Assuming the United States qualifies for its seventh consecutive World Cup in four years, Altidore will be 24 at the time, prime for international forwards.
"He is at a crossroads," Lalas said. "Where he goes from there is whether we'll be looking at him in the next four to eight years.
"It would be a waste," if Altidore doesn't make the right decisions, Lalas added. "This is the first time we have someone with the physical abilities. If this is a blip on the screen once in awhile, it does not do us any good."
For Donovan, many believe he is destined to return to Europe. Despite the 28-year-old midfielder signing a four-year contract extension earlier this year with MLS to remain with the Los Angeles Galaxy, his value likely increased substantially by scoring a team-leading three goals.
The summer transfer window opens July 15 and published reports have said Manchester City is interested. He already passed his English Premier League test earlier this year with a short loan stint at Everton.
Like every team, the United States must revamp its roster CONCACAF World Cup qualifying begins in 2012 to replace the aging, retiring players, regardless who is the coach. The backline will likely see the biggest chance with three starters turning 35 by the next World Cup -- central defenders Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit, and right fullback Steve Cherundolo. A number of possible candidates have shown promise, including New York Red Bulls rookie Tim Ream.
Oguchi Onyweu, whose knee problems limited his role in South Africa, will be 32, still considered young enough, vulnerable for replacement.
The midfield is probably the deepest part of the roster. Many believe Bradley's son Michael has solidified a place at one of the central positions while Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber are contending for the other. Even at 32, Donovan still could be an option on one flank, given his worth and fitness ethic. Clint Dempsey will be 31, although it remains to be seen if two over-30 players on the flanks would be a good idea.
Tim Howard will be 35 -- prime time for a goalkeeper. Brad Guzan, assuming he will get more playing time with Aston Villa, could be a viable starter or reserve.
Beyond that is the unforeseen talent to emerge. Altidore was 16 and more a year away from his first cap when the 2006 World Cup was played.
Retooling its roster is a process every team in the soccer world endures every four years. The United States has joined that fraternity, and seemingly also will get another of its rituals, increased expectations.
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
Bob cannot retire or get fired atleast not for the next few months, He's too busy ringing bells at the NYSE , and appearing on daily shows with Jon stewart etc.
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Me name MIDDLEAGEBALLA NOW, man dem nuh stop call man likkle youth pon di forum iyah.
GUATEMALA CITY -- The Guatemalan Football Federation announced the appointment of Ever Hugo Almeida as its Technical Director of National Teams today at a press conference in Guatemala City.
The 62-year-old Paraguayan will take charge of both the national and under-20 teams and his staff will be comprised of his son, Ivan Almeida, and Gustavo Bobadilla.
"With the arrival of Professor Almeida, we begin the process of the new era of football in Guatemala," said Dr. Bryan Jimenez, president of the Guatemalan Football Federation. "We will work for the optimal development of our selections."
Almeida was born in Uruguay and became a naturalized Paraguayan in 1975, making 22 appearances in goal for his adopted country. He is considered by many to be a legendary figure for Olimpia, a popular Paraguayan team. As a player with the Asuncion-based club, he won numerous titles, including 10 domestic championships, two Copa Libertadores and an Intercontinental Cup.
After a successful playing career, Almeida coached clubs in Paraguay, Ecuador and Guatemala. From 2001-2003, he guided Guatemala City-side Comunicaciones to three titles.
In addition to extensive club experience in Latin America, Almeida led host Paraguay to a quarterfinal place at the 1999 Copa America, where it fell to Uruguay on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.
Almeida, who signed an 18-month contract, told Guatemalan newspaper Siglo XX, "I am coming with a lot desire and the idea is to do a good job. I am going to need the help of the executives and the presidents of the clubs to do something…But if there's no help, it's not worth anything. I am not coming, as they say here, to scratch my belly and spend time on vacation."
One of Almeida's priorities will be to qualify Guatemala for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.After making seven-straight appearances in the event, the Chapines failed to a secure a place in the 2009 edition, dropping a 2-0 decision to Nicaragua in the fifth place game of the UNCAF Nations Cup.
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
When it comes to Americans, It appears Fulham is interested in more than just players.
U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley is on Fulham's shortlist to succeed manager Roy Hodgson, who joined Liverpool late last week.
While Bradley is not considered the favorite to land the job, he would make history for becoming the first American to land a head coaching job with a European club if he wound up as the Cottagers' coach.
Sven-Goran Eriksson and Mark Hughes are also reportedly being considered, with Eriksson currently Fulham's top choice.
What do you think of Bradley possibly coaching Fulham? Think he would succeed? How much do you think this could help open the door for other American coaches in Europe?
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
With the list i dont see why not bob , besides Erickson He's the best candidate for a club . He's done well at that level. Erickson needs to quit this international bullcrap and go back to where he had success.
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Me name MIDDLEAGEBALLA NOW, man dem nuh stop call man likkle youth pon di forum iyah.
Yep, why not Bob if Sven isn't chosen? I think if the English can embrace Donovan then they can accept a yankee manager. You always have to be mindful of flops when you as a club make a decision from a World Cup that is full of surprises. But I think Bradley is very capable of doing a solid job. I used to wonder if Bruce Arena wasn't going to make a move like this after 2002.
On the Guatemala article, a major correction. Almeida managed Municipal not Comunicaciones to 3 titles. Almeida brought Pescado Ruiz through the ranks and then brought him to Paraguay last year. I doubt he'll be able to bring him back to the National team...he badly needs to replace him or go to Germany and convince Guatemala's lone "quasi-UB40" candidate Stefano Cincotta playmaker for Frankfurt juniours to put on the colours, even though he's already accepted a call up to Germany's U-19 and also has an Italian passport. But his mom pushed him out in Guatemala City and wants him to play here.
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Reinaldo Rueda, who qualified Honduras for the World Cup for the first time since 1982, resigned as manager of the Catrachos on Wednesday.
The 53-year-old Colombian, who has coached that country's senior team as well as its under-17, under-20, under-21 and under-23 teams, leaves Honduras after more than 3½ years.
"It's better that we take a step to the side because the atmosphere and environment is not the best," Rueda said reading from a prepared statement while appearing with his coaching staff. "I didn't want to be the reason for the lack of unity due to what's been happening in Honduras following the World Cup.
"We wanted to leave through the front door and not through the back door."
Despite making the World Cup finals for only the second time, Honduras lost all three games in South Africa and was eliminated in the first round.
"I made a chart of the factors why we didn't have a good World Cup. We had 11 injuries and that had never happened to us," Rueda said. "We wanted that fourth match but we can't. We had the choice and we didn't take advantage of it. We were in the toughest group."
Rueda said he was offered a contract to remain as coach of Honduras on May 1, more than a month before the start of the World Cup, but he didn't want to be "an opportunist."
"We never spoke about money," he said. "I always had the desire to continue but I didn't want to divide the country."
Rueda joins Mexico's Javier Aguirre of Mexico in stepping down. Of CONCACAF's three World Cup qualifiers, only Bob Bradley of the United States remains on the job.
"I have two offers from Central American national teams, one from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and one from Ecuador," Rueda said. "If I leave Honduras, I can't continue in Central America. I couldn't be that disrepectful."
_________________________ "Victory" in wars are never about who is right or wrong but more about who is left standing.
