Three days ago, new Swansea City boss and former USMNT manager Bob Bradley said Jurgen Klinsmann was trying to get his national team gig after the 2010 World Cup. Klinsmann ended up getting it after the 2011 Gold Cup, and he has held the post ever since. Now preparing for Tuesday's friendly against New Zealand and with an eye on next month's World Cup qualifying play, Klinsmann threw a bit of shade at Bradley.
Per ESPN's Doug McIntyre:
"It's simply not true. I could've taken the job in 2006. I could've taken it in 2010," Klinsmann said. "I was not jockeying anything."
"I wish Bob the very, very best. It's a big, big moment having an American coach coaching a Premier League club. I think it's huge. He's a awesome guy. He's a good person and I just keep my fingers crossed for him."
Interesting. So he is saying he could have had the job that ended up going to Bradley in 2006, implying he was higher on the U.S. Soccer wishlist to replace Bruce Arena, and that he could have had it in 2010? What, was he holding talks with U.S. Soccer about replacing Bradley after the World Cup? Strange. So Klinsmann thinks Bradley is a good person and an awesome guy. I have a feeling Bradley doesn't feel the same about Klinsi.
And this shouldn't create any tension between Kinsmann and Bradley's son, midfielder Michael Bradley, right? We'll see what happens this WCQ cycle.
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