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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 17 2004 : 12:24:32 AM
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10/27/98 1:31 PM
NEW YORK CITY (Tuesday, October 27, 1998) - When the search for a new U.S. Men's National Team coach began in July, some of the criteria that kept popping up included, among other things: a) an American coach, b) a coach with international experience, c) a coach that understands the American player, and d) a coach who knows how to develop American talent.
With his incredible success at the professional and collegiate level, international experience with the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team and a reputation as a great developer of talent, Bruce Arena is arguably the only person to match all the criteria set out for the new coach of the U.S. Men's National Team.
With 18 seasons under his belt as the head soccer coach at the University of Virginia and three more in Major League Soccer with D.C. United, Arena has coached 21 seasons at the highest levels of soccer in the United States.
At D.C. United the 47-year-old Arena has had the Midas touch. Despite winning the first two MLS championships and the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, perhaps his finest accomplishment with United was the team's impressive victory in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final over Toluca, 1-0, on Aug. 16 in Washington, D.C. The victory crowned D.C. United as the club champion of CONCACAF, an amazing achievement for a team which didn't play its first game until 1996.
The triumph also put United into the Interamerican Cup, a two-leg battle with Brazil's Vasco da Gama being competed in November and December for the championship of the Western Hemisphere and a berth in FIFA's proposed World Club Championship.
That title, combined with his five NCAA titles, one U.S. Open Crown, and two MLS Cup victories, marked Arena's ninth championship since 1989. To earn his two MLS titles, Arena built the team from scratch after being hired on January 3, 1996 for the team's debut season. That summer, the native of Brooklyn, N.Y., not only led United to victory in the inaugural MLS Cup, but guided the U.S. Under-23 National Team for 35 games through the Summer Olympiad in Atlanta.
With the Olympic team, Arena was widely credited with accelerating the development of a number of U.S. National Team players, including midfielder Claudio Reyna and defender Eddie Pope, both of whom became eventual starters on the USA's 1998 World Cup Team.
In 1997, Arena duplicated his efforts with United, advancing D.C. to a second MLS Cup title to earn MLS Coach of the Year honors. As a two-time MLS All-Star Coach, he guided a team of MLS USA All-Stars to a 6-1 victory over the MLS World All-Stars in Orlando in August.
When Arena took on the professional challenge of guiding D.C. United and the Under-23 National Team, it brought to a close an 18-year career as head soccer coach at the University of Virginia where he built the program into a perennial powerhouse, winning five NCAA Division I championships while amassing a record of 295-58-32. His winning percentage of .808 at UVA ranks among the best ever in collegiate sports, surpassing even legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden (.804).
Arena took over the soccer program at Virginia upon his arrival in Charlottesville in 1978 from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where he was an assistant lacrosse coach. Inheriting a Virginia program that had enjoyed modest success, Arena ran up a 21-6-3 record in his first two seasons.
In 1980 the Cavaliers finished one-game under .500, but the following year began a 15-year run of winning seasons under Arena. In that time, Virginia appeared in 15 consecutive NCAA tournaments, won the NCAA title five times (including four consecutive from 1991-1994), and dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference by winning the conference regular season and tournament titles numerous times. For his efforts, Arena was the recipient of numerous accolades, including seven ACC Coach of the Year honors and the 1993 National Coach of the Year award.
Arena's previous soccer coaching experience came as head coach of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., in 1976, and as an assistant at Cornell in 1973. Until he relinquished his duties in 1985 to focus entirely on soccer, Arena was also an assistant men's lacrosse coach at UVA. Arena was an All-American in lacrosse at Cornell University, where he graduated in 1973. He earned All-American honors in both soccer and lacrosse while attending Nassau Community College from 1969 to 1971.
His experience also extends to the playing field, where he competed professionally in lacrosse with the Montreal Quebecois in 1975. A year later he played professionally for the Tacoma Tides of the American Soccer League. In 1973, Arena earned a cap as a goalkeeper in a 2-0 loss in Israel.
Personal: Married to Phyllis, the couple have a 17-year-old son named Kenny and reside in Fairfax, Va. ... Is a past chairman of the ACC soccer coaches and served two three-year terms on the NCAA Division I soccer committee from 1989 to 1995. ... Attended Nassau Community College (1969-1971) and Cornell University (1971-1973). ... Born September 21, 1951 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Collegiate Soccer Coaching Career: Assistant coach, Cornell University (1973); Head coach, University of Puget Sound (1976); Head coach, University of Virginia (1978-1995).
Playing Honors: All-American in soccer and lacrosse at Nassau C.C.; All-American in lacrosse at Cornell; Most Valuable Defensive Player, NCAA Division I Soccer Championships (1972).
Coaching Honors: 1997 MLS Coach of the Year; 1997 and 1998 MLS All-Star head coach.
International Experience: One full cap with U.S. Men's National Team (as a substitute on Nov. 15, 1973, in a 2-0 loss to Israel in Beersheba, Israel). ... Head coach of the U.S. Under-23 National Team which competed in the 1996 Olympics. ... Led D.C. United twice to the CONCACAF Champions Cup (losing in the semifinals in 1997, and winning it all in 1998); also won the Carnival of Champions in Hong Kong and was runner-up in the Sanwa Bank Cup in Japan, both in 1997; will lead D.C. through two-leg Interamerican Cup against Vasco da Gama of Brazil on Nov. 14 and Dec. 5 in D.C. and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., respectively.
BRUCE ARENA'S CHAMPIONSHIP CHECK LIST
U.S. Open Cup:
1996
CONCACAF Champions Cup:
1998
MLS Cup:
1996, 1997
Eastern Conference Champions:
1996, 1997, 1998
Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions:
1997, 1998
NCAA:
1989 (co-champs), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
ACC Tournament:
1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
ACC Regular Season:
1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995
© Copyright US Soccer Federation 2001-2004. All rights reserved.
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Karl |
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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2004 : 12:28:45 AM
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Bruce Arena
DOB:
9/21/51
City of Birth:
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Team:
U.S. Men
Manager: U.S. Men's National Team
Born: September 21, 1951, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hometown: Fairfax, Va.
After a crescendo of successes for the U.S. National Team in which the side climbed to a record eighth place in the FIFA world rankings while reaching the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, only one man is capable of guiding the U.S. team through the weight of global expectations while simultaneously building on their success – the man who started it in the first place.
Inking a new contract in January of 2003, Bruce Arena has once again embarked on the mission of developing American talent and crafting a team capable of competing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, a road that begins this summer as CONCACAF World Cup qualifying kicks off.
The journey began in earnest in 2003, with the USA posting a 10-4-2 record, the second-most wins under Arena’s charge. After competing in the FIFA Confederations Cup in France, the U.S. collected third place honors at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July. Already with the search for new blood underway, Arena gave six players their first cap with the senior team. All tolled, 49 different players have made their international debut under Arena.
During a five-year tenure in which he would become the winningest coach in team history (44 wins, 22 losses, 16 ties), Arena guided the U.S. World Cup squad to an historic quarterfinal finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan that captured the hearts of the American public and alerted the world that the United States is an emerging soccer force.
The USA’s unprecedented journey began with the shock 3-2 defeat of heavily favored Portugal, with Arena’s system of high-pressure defense and quick counter attacks resulting in an early 3-0 lead. The U.S. next rose to the challenge against the motivated host nation and one of the most intimidating “12th man” atmospheres in sports, earning a hard fought 1-1 draw with Korea. Despite a difficult 3-1 loss to Poland in the final match of group play, the United States advanced to the Round of 16, where the USA’s fiercest rival awaited.
Meeting Mexico in any match inspires heated passion on both sides, but to encounter the neighbors to the south in a match of such significance raised the stakes that much higher. Even President Bush got into the act, calling the President of Mexico before the match and expressing confidence in a favorable outcome for the USA. In the most important game for U.S. Soccer in modern history, Arena’s coaching brilliance shone. Deploying an altered formation and shifting the position of team captain Claudio Reyna, the U.S. had the Mexicans off balance from the opening whistle. Brian McBride’s perfectly placed strike in the 8th minute set the early tone, and a dogged defensive effort for the remainder of the contest gave the USA a 2-0 victory and a place in the quarterfinals for the first time in 72 years. The American public, indeed the world, took notice.
The USA would fall to Germany 1-0 in the quarterfinal round, although most pundits and fans agreed that Arena’s side had been the better team on the day. In spite of the loss, the USA had turned in an unprecedented performance in Korea. No longer would the United States be considered a second rate soccer nation.
The road to Korea had begun some two years earlier. Challenging his team with a vast array of opponents to help prepare them for the rigors of World Cup qualifying, the USA’s preparation included victories at the 2000 Nike U.S. Cup, the team’s first domestic championship in five years, and a third-place finish at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico in 1999. In 2002, preparation for the actual World Cup began with a stirring championship victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In qualifying, the U.S. had its ups and downs in both the semifinals and finals, but rose to the challenge at every turn. After opening the semifinal round of qualifying with two tough road games, Arena and his players found their stride, taking 10 of a possible 12 points from the final four games and finishing in first place in Group E. The final round saw a reversal of fortune, with the U.S. jumping out to an early lead in the six-team group with four wins and a draw in their first five games. After an unprecedented three straight defeats, Arena guided the team to the win they needed (over Jamaica on Oct. 7, 2001), enabling the U.S. to qualify for Korea/Japan with a game to spare.
Prior to the rigors of 2001 final round qualifying, the U.S. had arguably their best year yet in 2000, compiling a stellar 9-2-6 record and outscoring their opposition by a team-record 23 goals. The team also set a new American standard for shutouts in a year with nine, and twice shutout archrival Mexico, outscoring them 5-0 in two meetings.
Much as he did when he took over in October of 1998, Arena continues to utilize Major League Soccer players as well as the usual collection of overseas American professionals to build his squad. With the continued development of the USA’s top domestic league producing better players in greater numbers every year, the 51-year-old Brooklyn native has shown a keen ability to select the best players to suit each individual game.
With 18 seasons under his belt as the head soccer coach at the University of Virginia and three more in Major League Soccer with D.C. United, Arena spent 21 seasons at the highest levels of club soccer in the United States. He also guided the U.S. Under-23 National Team for 44 games through the 1996 Summer Olympiad in Atlanta. With the Olympic team, Arena was widely credited with accelerating the development of a number of U.S. National Team players, including midfielder Claudio Reyna and defender Eddie Pope, both of whom became eventual starters on the USA's 1998 World Cup Team.
When Arena took on the professional challenge of guiding D.C. United and the Under-23 National Team, it brought to a close an 18-year career as head soccer coach at the University of Virginia where he built the program into a perennial powerhouse, winning five NCAA Division I championships while amassing a record of 295-58-32. His winning percentage (.808) at UVa ranks among the best ever in collegiate sports, surpassing even legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden (.804). Arena took over the soccer program at Virginia upon his arrival in Charlottesville in 1978 from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where he was an assistant lacrosse coach. Virginia eventually appeared in 15 consecutive NCAA tournaments, won the NCAA title five times (including four consecutive from 1991- 1994), and dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference by winning the conference regular season and tournament titles numerous times.
Until he relinquished his duties in 1985 to focus entirely on soccer, Arena was also an assistant men's lacrosse coach at UVa. Arena was an All-American in lacrosse at Cornell University, where he graduated in 1973. He earned All-American honors in both soccer and lacrosse while attending Nassau Community College from 1969 to 1971. His experience also extends to the playing field, where he competed professionally in lacrosse with the Montreal Quebecois in 1975. A year later he played professionally for the Tacoma Tides of the American Soccer League. In 1973, Arena earned a cap for the U.S. as a goalkeeper in a 2-0 loss in Israel.
Personal: Married to Phyllis, the couple has one son (Kenny) and resides in Fairfax, Va. ... Is a past chairman of the ACC soccer coaches and served two three-year terms on the NCAA Division I soccer committee from 1989 to 1995 ... Attended Nassau Community College (1969-1971) and Cornell University (1971-1973) ... Born September 21, 1951 in Brooklyn, N.Y. … Collegiate Soccer Coaching Career: Assistant coach, Cornell University (1973); Head coach, University of Puget Sound (1976); Head coach, University of Virginia (1978-1995) … Playing Honors: All-American in soccer and lacrosse at Nassau C.C.; All-American in lacrosse at Cornell; Most Valuable Defensive Player, NCAA Division I Soccer Championships (1972) … Coaching Honors: 1997 MLS Coach of the Year; 1997 and 1998 MLS All-Star head coach … International Experience: One full cap with U.S. Men's National Team (as a substitute on Nov. 15, 1973, in a 2-0 loss to Israel in Beersheba, Israel) ... Head coach of the U.S. Under-23 National Team which competed in the 1996 Olympics. ... Led D.C. United twice to the CONCACAF Champions Cup (losing in the semifinals in 1997, and winning it all in 1998); also won the Carnival of Champions in Hong Kong and was runner-up in the Sanwa Bank Cup in Japan, both in 1997 ... Won Interamerican Cup with D.C. United over Vasco da Gama in 1998.
BRUCE ARENA'S CHAMPIONSHIP CHECK LIST
U.S. Soccer
Nike U.S. Cup: 2000
World Cup Qualifying - Semifinal Round - Group E Champions: 2000
CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2002
D.C. United
MLS Cup: 1996, 1997
U.S. Open Cup: 1996
CONCACAF Champions Cup: 1998
Interamerican Cup: 1998
Eastern Conference Regular Season Champions: 1997, 1998
Eastern Conference Champions: 1996, 1997, 1998
Virginia
NCAA: 1989 (co-champs), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
ACC Tournament: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
ACC Regular Season: 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995
BRUCE ARENA’S U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM COACHING RECORD
Full Internationals
Year GP W L T Pct.
1998 1 0 0 1 .500
1999 13 7 4 2 .615
2000 17 9 2 6 .706
2001 15 6 6 3 .500
2002 20 12 6 2 .650
2003 16 10 4 2 .686
6-Years 82 44 22 16 .634
© Copyright US Soccer Federation 2001-2004. All rights reserved. |
Karl |
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Bruce Arena (Head Coach - U.S. Men's National Team
