Chances are that U.S. men's soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann stays on as the World Cup qualifying campaign continues in March, but there is no denying there is a crisis at the moment after losing to Mexico and at Costa Rica on Tuesday to kick off the hex.
The "Fire Klinsmann" campaign online has never been stronger and people are already wondering who could replace the German-born manager if he is let go.
So with that in mind, let's take a look at three potential candidates to keep an eye on if that were to happen.
1. Bruce Arena
Before the days of Bob Bradley, Bruce Arena was the man in charge of the USMNT. Arena coached the team from 1998-2006 and guided them to the most impressive World Cup campaign in modern history in 2002, where the team advanced to the quarterfinals and beat Portugal and Mexico in the process.
He knows the system, he knows the federation, and he knows the sport. Arena won more games as USMNT manager than any other coach in history, earning 71 victories and a winning percentage of 65.77 percent. Klinsmann is No. 2 at 65.1 percent.
This is a logical choice because he is still coaching, now with the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS, and he's been a winner everywhere he has gone, even early on at the University of Virginia and D.C. United. The clear pick of the fans, he isn't overly demanding of the players and knows how to get them working together and producing results.
Not to mention, there's this ...
I asked @LAGalaxy coach Bruce Arena if he would be interested in coaching the #USMNT again. He said, "Yes, under the right circumstances."
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) October 19, 2015
2. Caleb Porter
Just like Arena, Caleb Porter has had big-time success at the collegiate level and in MLS, but the only thing that could hold him back right now is his age. The 41-year-old Oregon native has plenty of years ahead of him to manage, so for now he could be viewed at as a potential long-term option if things go right and if his stock remains high.
Porter motivates his players and relates to them well, and he knows how to make proper changes mid-game to boost his team, especially in the attack. He guided the University of Akron to the national championship in 2010 and then took the Portland Timbers to the top of MLS in 2015. He's still coaching Portland and knows the game and the MLS-based players very well. He would be a darkhorse but he would be my pick.
3. Marcelo Bielsa
Ah, "El Loco" Bielsa. SI's Grant Wahl said Bielsa has drawn interest from the U.S. before, and he could be it. He's the only one without a coaching job on this list. But that nickname is accurate, Bielsa is a bit crazy. He's intense, organized, extremely strict and super demanding. He's coached all over the world, including the Argentina national team, Chile, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille, and he doesn't always rub everyone the right way.
He would be just the guy to get the right players in and motivate them, especially in defense, but he doesn't know much about the American game or the players, so it's hard to see it happening.
Another concern is his crazy decision making. He abruptly left Marseille in 2015 and then departed Lazio this year just days after signing his contract.
If at some point he does coach the U.S., his staff better remember to hand him his hot beverage.
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