‘We have more legitimacy overseas than stateside’: Landon Donovan on U.S. Men’s Soccer
Landon Donovan speaks on the international perspective of the USMNT.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
There is a void within the United States men’s national soccer team ranks.
The USMNT needs a new head coach after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired. U.S. Soccer is also without sporting director Earnie Stewart and general manager Brian McBride. Both left their positions earlier this year.
USMNT is searching for a new voice. Could French legend Thierry Henry be the perfect match?
Henry addressed the USMNT vacancy on Wednesday. He mentioned that he would like to return to coaching and hinted at interest in U.S. Soccer.
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“Do I know the players? Yeah, I do know the players,” Henry said on Wednesday’s Champions League postgame broadcast. “Do I know the league? Yeah, I do know the league.”
Henry, 45, joined the coaching ranks after a successful playing career. He coached in Major League Soccer with the Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal) for three years. He also was an assistant with the Belgian national soccer team.
Henry is looking for the right opportunity to return. He mentioned he didn’t join Roberto Martinez after he left to coach Portugal. Instead, he wanted to another chance in the lead chair.
“Roberto Martinez went to coach Portugal and I’m not going with him,” Henry said. “Being a No 2 is no longer something I would like to do. Massive respect for the boss, he gave me an opportunity when no one else did. I’d like to have a crack (at management) again.”
U.S. Soccer has an exciting core of young players that impressed during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The group made the Round of 16 and had a strong showing in group play against Wales, England and Iran.
Still, Henry had questions regarding U.S. Soccer’s direction. The organization must replace Stewart and McBride in the front office.
“What’s the plan? What’s the philosophy? What do you want to be? When you ask yourself these questions, you are going to find out eventually these answers,” Henry said. “And it’s not because you’re going to host the competition that you’re going to go far automatically. We’ve seen that it’s not easy to do that. We’ve seen some big teams (struggle) at home.”
U.S. Soccer tabbed Anthony Hudson to serve as the interim head coach. The search for a new head coach will be completed by the new sporting director. U.S. Soccer outlined that the timeline for the hires will be concurrent and already in progress.
As a player, Henry made 122 appearances with the New York Red Bulls. He scored 51 goals during his MLS stint with the club.
