Goalkeeper Tim Howard, who has been in the US international system for nearly 14 years, believes he could personally convince ex-Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp to take the US Men's National Team [USMNT] coaching job .
In a new column for the Daily Mail , Howard outlined a bold strategy for transforming US Soccer : jetting off to Spain to woo Klopp into coaching the USMNT. With unmistakable confidence, Howard declared, "I think I could lure him over here. 100 percent."
Howard's proposal to lure Klopp to the USMNT concerns the players and the financial backing. He confidently stated that the money was available, emphasizing the USMNT's roster of young, goal-hungry players. The financial commitment parallels Klopp's relentless Liverpool squads, which feature three dynamic attackers.
READ MORE: Tim Howard takes aim at USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter over Tyler Adams captaincy
READ MORE: Gregg Berhalter issues direct public response to firing talk after USMNT's Copa America failure
In 2022, U.S. national team coach Gregg Berhalter earned over $2.2 million, including $900,000 in bonuses for getting the Americans to the World Cup and into the second round. On the other hand, Klopp's last contract with Liverpool reportedly had him making a hefty $10 million per year.
The salary, combined with Klopp's desire to stay in the high-pay bracket , has fueled speculation that he might cost too much for the Germany job, which was a rumored next step for the acclaimed manager. The former US goalkeeper also highlighted the differences between international and domestic coaching, noting that Klopp would benefit from fewer training sessions and less organizational stress due to the international schedule.
Howard added that Klopp wouldn't face sky-high expectations immediately, particularly after the USA's earlier-than-expected Copa America exit. He mentioned the team’s key players, including Christian Pulisic, captain of the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad, and Tyler Adams, who has also served as captain, as foundational pillars for the future.
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The USMNT's performance in the 2024 Copa America was nothing short of disappointing. The team bowed out in the group stage following a 1-0 loss to Uruguay . After a meticulous VAR review, Mathias Olivera netted the decisive goal in the 66th minute to make the elimination official.
The defeat was considered a significant failure, particularly because the young Americans were defeated on their home turf. Their performance was frequently criticized online for playing slow, lacking energy, and, at times, boring, which led to widespread scrutiny of the coaching staff, focusing on Berhalter.
"Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations," said U.S. Soccer Federation representative Matt Crocker. "We must do better. We will be conducting a comprehensive review of our performance in Copa America and how best to improve the team and results as we look towards the 2026 World Cup."
Former U.S. defender turned analyst Alexi Lalas also expressed his desire to see Berhalter fired after the loss, which would pave the way for Klopp, despite his contributions to the men’s team. Under Berhalter’s leadership, the USMNT secured two Nations League titles in 2021 and 2024 and a Gold Cup victory in 2021.
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