News of Jürgen Klopp shutting down the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s vacant coaching job was met quickly with reactions from former USMNT players turned soccer analysts.
Klopp, the former Dortmund and Liverpool coach, told U.S. Soccer he wishes to continue his break away from the sport, multiple outlets reported Thursday. Now, the program must look in other directions to fill the job after Gregg Berhalter was fired Wednesday.
“Good. Thank you Jurgen. Don’t waste our time,” FOX analyst Alexi Lalas posted on X.
“1. You had to ask. 2. Glad that’s out of the way and now the focus can be on high profile candidates that are realistic and have genuine interest in the position,” FOX’s Stu Holden said on X.
Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman said the U.S. Soccer Federation needs to be big and bold with its next hiring.
“Now, it becomes very interesting where they go from there. I’m on the record and I’ll stay on the record that the United States men, for the next 18 to 20 months, they need to really think bold, and they really need to think big for this World Cup coming here in their backyard in ’26,” Twellman said. “My perspective strictly comes from how do you maximize the group? And I think it’s got to be an outside set of mind, set of eyes, set of ideals.
‘I think you need a bold, brash personality, someone that walks into that room and tells everyone that they’re on a clean slate, and they’ve got to figure out who they want to be going into that World Cup.’
Berhalter was fired after the USMNT failed to reach the knockout stage during this summer’s Copa America as the host nation. The U.S. needs a new coach, less than two years before the country co-hosts World Cup 2026 with Canada and Mexico.
“Yeah, Juergen Klopp said no. There are five or six other candidates out there that absolutely you have to pursue, you have to have a conversation with,’ Twellman continues. ‘But you need a personality that walks right in that room and gains the respect of the players, but also puts the players on their toes and try to get them righted, and the ship righted.
“Right now, that program is not in the right set of mind, going into hosting a World Cup at all.”