Sunil Gulati became president of the U.S. Soccer Federation in March, and in the wake of the national team’s three-and-out World Cup, his first significant act was ousting coach Bruce Arena and starting a worldwide search to replace the most suc cessful U.S. men’s soccer coach in history.
But in reality, the Co lumbia professor’s true tasks – and U.S. Soccer’s real problems – are far more complex. He not only has to find a coach – ex-Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann is option No. 1 – but he has to change how the team is developed for whomever he hires. No small chore.
“Expectations weren’t met this summer, but the number of spectators, TV ratings, and the water-cooler talk [are great signs],” Gulati said. “We joined the rest of the soccer world at this World Cup.”
Roughly 17 million Americans tuned into the World Cup final, and ESPN will pay $100 million for the next two men’s and women’s World Cups and $7.5 million a year to show MLS matches, so there is an emerging soccer culture. It’s Gulati’s charge to foster it and make it work for the national team.
One task is finding better competition. The Gold Cup is currently the only other tourney on tap. The U.S. has repeatedly turned down a standing invitation to Copa America, but facing the likes of Brazil and Argentina seems a must.
“Do we need to play more competitive games? Yes. From a competitive point of view, would it be great? Yes. Is it practical right now? No,” said Gulati, citing that it starts three days after the Gold Cup ends.
Of greater importance is that MLS teams start academies to find talent unseen by the Olympic Development Program, then expose it to pro environments, instead of relying solely on the 40 teens at the U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla.
“Bradenton is not the answer,” Arena said. “That’s a naive approach, to think we can magically select the best 40 players and that’s it.”
The ODP is limited to the upper-middle class that can afford it. Gulati’s top priority is reaching inner-city blacks and Hispanics, with club academies able to find inner-city locals that the ODP never would.
“There are tons of talented kids in the cities; they just can’t afford it,” said 16-year-old Red Bull forward Josmer Altidore, who was born to Haitian parents in Newark and joins Freddy Adu as stars of the U-20s.
“There are players there that can help our teams. By neglecting 25 percent of our population, we’re missing out on something,” Gulati said. “We’ve started communication with parks and recs, and influences in the entertainment industry. The impact you’ll see in 5-10 years.”
The Red Bulls lead the way in youth academies, finding players such as Haitian-born Johnny Exantus, who scored the game-winner in the Super Y league U-16 national title game last year.
“That’s the future, the direction soccer is taking,” said Red Bulls director of youth soccer development Giovanni Savarese. “Sunil believes, he understands, and is committed to making this happen. It’s a great thing we have Sunil as president.”
That much we’ll find out four years from now at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
