Klinsmann kaput with Team USA

Jurgen Klinsmann looks on during an Oct 11 friendly against New Zealand at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. Klinsmann was fired as coach of Team USA on Monday.Patrick Smith / Getty Images / AFP

German legend dumped after dropping World Cup qualifiers

Former Germany player and coach Jurgen Klinsmann was fired on Monday as coach of the US national team after losing two 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

The 52-year-old, who won the World Cup as a player with Germany in 1990, had been in charge of Team USA since 2011.

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati announced the "difficult decision" without naming a replacement.

The US does not face another World Cup qualifier until March.

"While we remain confident that we have quality players to help us advance to Russia 2018, the form and growth of the team up to this point left us convinced that we need to go in a different direction," Gulati said.

"With the next qualifying match in late March, we have several months to refocus the group and determine the best way forward to ensure a successful journey to qualify for our eighth consecutive World Cup."

Klinsmann went 55-27 with 16 draws in a coaching tenure that began on July 29, 2011, when Gulati named him to replace fired Bob Bradley on a team that included Bradley's son Michael.

"We want to thank Jurgen for his hard work and commitment during these last five years," Gulati said.

"He took pride in having the responsibility of steering the program and there were considerable achievements along the way."

Klinsmann guided the Americans to a team record 12-match win streak in 2013, when his 16 triumphs and .761 win percentage set US calendar-year records.

But the Americans were a disappointing fourth in the 2015 Gold Cup and lost a playoff to Mexico for a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

Earlier this month, Team USA stumbled badly in opening the final round of North American (CONCACAF) qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, falling 2-1 at home to archrival Mexico and 4-0 at Costa Rica.

In a New York Times story published on Monday, Klinsmann dismissed much of the criticism as "a lot of talk from people who don't understand soccer or the team," while saying critics were "ignoring the facts" and "being disrespectful."

Klinsmann has tinkered with lineups and formations, but dismissed criticism that his moves hurt the squad, saying "we are coaching a team through a transitional phase."

Arena to return?

Gulati addressed the future of US Soccer, which many fans saw as bleak under Klinsmann's guidance, saying "we look forward to continued progress."

Bruce Arena, a five-time Major League Soccer champion coach now with the Los Angeles Galaxy, is thought to be a prime candidate to replace Klinsmann.

The 65-year-old American coached Team USA to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals and guided a 2006 lineup that exited in the group stages.

Sports Illustrated reported Arena was set to take over and an announcement could come as early as Tuesday, when Gulati plans to speak with reporters.

Under Klinsmann in 2014, the Americans matched their 2010 World Cup showing by reaching the last 16 at Brazil after Klinsmann left long-time Team USA striker Landon Donovan off the roster.

"I never want to see someone lose their job," Donovan tweeted on Monday. "I have no doubt that this talented group of players will qualify for Russia 2018."

Gulati sang Klinsmann's praises even as he swung the axe, saying the German legend's legacy will have a long-term impact on the American squad.

"Many are aware of the historic victories, including leading us out of the 'Group of Death' to the round of 16 in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but there were also lesser publicized efforts behind the scenes," Gulati said.

"Jurgen challenged everyone in the US Soccer community to think about things in new ways. Thanks to his efforts we have grown as an organization and we expect there will be benefits from his work for years to come."

Eight US matches remain in the North American (CONCACAF) "hexagonal" round-robin qualifying, the next being at home to Honduras on March 24 and four days later at Panama.

The three top teams in the six-nation field advance to the World Cup, while the fourth faces a playoff against an Asian team for one of the last berths in Russia.