Jurgen Klinsmann causes some very divisive arguments among many Americans and media, both in and out of soccer. Some say he’s great and praise him for playing young, unknown talent and others say he’s nothing special and criticize him for throwing legends to the curb. FIFA apparently sided with the Klinsmann supporters because Klinsmann was nominated, along with 9 other people for FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football.
While Jurgen Klinsmann most likely won’t win the award, this shows that the US Men’s National Team is being recognized by those other than US Soccer fans. The team may have gone further in the World Cup in the past but other countries took notice this year due to them advancing in the “Group of Death” and showing the kind of tenacity and drive that many other, more established teams, just didn’t show this year. *cough* England *cough*
All in all, it’s getting the USMNT some respect it deserved. Too often, the team and the USA as a soccer nation was seen as an untalented outsider and now, little by little, our soccer nation is being accepted by the rest of the world.
Full List of Nominees
Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
Antonio Conte (Juventus/Italy)
Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich)
Jurgen Klinsmann (USA)
Joachim Loew (Germany)
Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)
Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City)
Alejandro Sabella (Argentina)
Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
Louis van Gaal (Netherlands/Manchester United)
