US boss Gulati stays, Arena resigns after World Cup failure

Chicago, Oct 14 (AFP) US Soccer Federation presidentSunil Gulati said he will not resign and might even seek re-election despite the Americans' fai...
Updated on: 
3 min read

Chicago, Oct 14 (AFP) US Soccer Federation presidentSunil Gulati said he will not resign and might even seek re-election despite the Americans' failing to qualify for nextyear's World Cup in Russia.

Just minutes after US coach Bruce Arena resigned in thewake of Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago, which sawthe US fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first timesince 1986, Gulati took the blame for the humiliating failure.

"It's a shock to the system. We fully expected toqualify," he said yesterday. "It's a big disappointment... Icertainly take responsibility for us not getting to Russia."Gulati, a 58-year-old India-born American, then outlinedwhy he thinks he remains the correct person to guide theprogram back from the abyss, including the US role in acombined bid with Mexico and Canada for the 2026 World Cup.

"I don't plan to resign," Gulati said. "We've got a lotof things on our agenda, including a World Cup bid that's duein March.

"I don't plan to do that -- because of everything, wherethe sport is now, the role I played in it and where it couldgo if I choose to run again."Gulati became the US Soccer supremo on March 11, 2006,and finished a four-year term on the FIFA executive committeeearlier this year.

He has overseen a US growth in interest, but his watchalso included this year's bitter flop and numerous calls fromsupporters for his quick resignation.

"I can understand the frustration, sure," Gulati said.

"We'll do everything we can to get the team and theprogram back on track so we can be successful. We understandhow much anger and hurt there is from Tuesday night."- Calls for Gulati to resign - ==============================New York Cosmos owner Rocco Commisso, part of a groupsuing the federation over anti-trust issues, renewed a callfor Gulati to resign.

"Sunil Gulati's role as a US Soccer power broker hasoutlasted three US Presidents," Commisso said. Theresponsibility for the American men's failure to qualify forthe 2018 World Cup and the last two Olympic Games must land atMr. Gulati's feet.

"His public acknowledgement of shared responsibility forthe national team's disastrous failure to qualify ismeaningless unless there is a personal consequence to himreflective of the seriousness of the debacle he presidedover."A new election for US Soccer president is set forFebruary with candidate nominations due in December, allowingtime for background checks.

Gulati said he will decide "in the next few weeks" aboutwhether or not to run again but noted, "I have reached out topeople about endorsing me or nominating me in the last fewweeks".

Gulati vowed a "deep dive" review of the entire programfrom player development and coaching to personnel.

"We're going to look and see what needs to be slightlychanged and what needs a complete overhaul," he said. "Notqualifying is not acceptable."- 'No excuses' - =================Arena, 66, was called upon last November to replaceJurgen Klinsmann as US coach after two losses to beginqualifying.

Arena, who guided the US team into the 2002 World Cupquarter-finals and at the 2006 World Cup, said missing thefinals was a "major setback".

"Everyone involved in the program gave everything theyhad for the last 11 months and, in the end, we came up short,"Arena said. "No excuses. We didn't get the job done and Iaccept responsibility.

"While this is a difficult time, I maintain a fiercebelief that we are heading in the right direction."Gulati said the US team will select an interim coach toguide the squad in two European friendlies next month, achoice likely to come in the next 10 days.

The long-term search for a new manager through 2022 willtake much longer and could involve candidates worldwide.

One early name mentioned is Tab Ramos, a former USnational team player and current US under-20 coach. (AFP)ATK.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

Related Stories

No stories found.

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com