Bruce Arena is the greatest coach/manager in the history of US soccer. He basically built the dynasty that
was D.C. United in the infancy of MLS. He took over Steve Sampson's pile of trash after the 1998 French disaster, turning them into a 2002 World Cup semi-finalist and earning the team a #4 world ranking leading up to the 2006 World Cup.
The summer of 2002 could arguably be the best summer of my life. I was a young adult with practically zero worries and responsibilities. I would be up late watching some serious soccer nearly every night. I remember watching the USA shock Portugal in a Salina, Kansas hotel. I remember watching my dreams fade away as Germany gets lucky with a win in the semis. I remember watching the rest of the tournament in a house with a pretty small TV with friends from a wide array of backgrounds, none of which expected any type of a showing from the US. I remember having friends from Argentina discount the entire World Cup as their country went crashing out in the group stage. Maybe I'm too sentimental, but I'll never forget what that team meant to me. It was an easier life in a different day.
Yes, American soccer fans had high hopes for the team in 2006. Bruce's side was drawn into a tough group, nearly advancing out of the group stage. That summer I was devastated. I blamed Bruce just like everybody else. The team was just "this close" to advancing. If the US did advance, Bruce would have people hailing him as the greatest (or at least one of the greatest) in the history of the modern game. I still place some of that blame on Bruce, but that doesn't take away what he had done for the program. Bruce was the reason why the hopes were so high. He was a victim of his own success.
I am still a fan of Bruce Arena, what he has done, and what I think he can still do.
Bruce Arena speaks for the first time in a while to
Goal.com in their two part interview.
Goal.com - Give & Go: Bruce Arena Pt. I and
Part II.
