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En Route: A Look At The Coaches Of The U.S. Youth Teams
Rongen to Schellscheidt and everyone in between.
May 18, 2010 4:40:00 PM
By J.R. Eskilson
Since most of the comments about the latest youth articles revolve around the coaches in the U.S. youth system, I thought it would be worth giving a run down of all five head coaches in the system.
While researching all five of the coaches, two things immediately stood out to me: not one of the coaches ever played in Major League Soccer and there is no common thread among the coaches in terms of coaching philosophy or playing style.
Here is the rundown of the five coaches and a quick synopsis:
U20 Head Coach: Thomas Rongen
First Year: 2001-2005, 2006
How He Got Here: MLS head coach (D.C. United, New England Revolution, Tampa Bay Mutiny, and Chivas USA)
Last Job: Head coach Chivas USA
Rongen’s reign is always going to be met with controversy due to the Neven Subotic comments of feeling neglected by not being called up for the 2007 World Youth Championship. That drama aside, Rongen has done well at the major event for this age group.
His 2003 and 2007 teams each could potentially put three players on the full national team this summer for the World Cup. From the 2003 team, Eddie Johnson, Ricardo Clark, and Clint Dempsey all could factor in Bob Bradley’s final 23 players. For comparison’s sake, Mexico’s U23 team from that same year didn’t produce one player for this World Cup.
Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, and Robbie Rogers are the trio from the 2007 team with the chance to make the trip to South Africa. That is a pretty solid half-dozen from two of Rongen’s teams.
He has also led the team to a winning record at the event with seven wins, four losses, and one draw in three trips. Wins over Paraguay, Brazil, and Cameroon in pool play, and wins over Uruguay and Ivory Coast in the knock-out stages highlight his successes.
Also, there is no argument about Rongen’s ability to uncover even the most hidden Americans playing in Europe. He has given a look to many players that ply their trade in Europe even with vague ties to the U.S.
For those detractors of Rongen, player production and results are typically cyclical, and producing three out of 21 doesn’t seem like a good percentage. There probably could be a solid argument made about the players Rongen failed to take to the World Youth Championship and the ones he failed to play (Dempsey only played for 20 minutes in the five games U.S. played in 2003).
However, in Sigi Schmid’s lone trip with the U20s to the World Youth Championships, he failed to advance as far as Rongen had in the previous tournament. Schmid did defeat eventual champion, Argentina, in the group stages. though.
It is easy to place blame on Rongen for the Subotic debacle, and it is understandable to be frustrated by his style of play at times. However, for this age group, he has been a relatively successful coach both with player development and results in the biggest tournament.
While most countries promote or fire their U20 coach, Rongen has held a fairly long tenure with the position. Whether that has been beneficial or not is debatable, the truth remains that I am not certain a coach within the U.S. ranks currently would be able to replicate Rongen’s success.
U18 Head Coach: Mike Matkovich
First Year: 2008
How He Got Here: Founder of Chicago Magic in 1987
Current Job: assistant coach Chicago Fire
This year will be Matkovich’s first opportunity to prove his worth at the Milk Cup. The prestigious Northern Ireland tournament is typically considered the measuring stick for this age group. His first trip there will be bolstered by the addition of midfield youth star, Luis Gil.
Matkovich’s experience comes from founding one of the most successful youth clubs in the country, Chicago Magic. From there, he has been an assistant coach at three different MLS clubs (Toronto FC, Chivas USA, and Fire). He also coached the very successful Chicago Fire PDL team from 2001-2006.
U17 Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera
First Year: 2007
How He Got Here: Colombian international
Last Job: U.S. U18 assistant coach
Career Record in international tournaments - 2009: Won 2, lost 2
Cabrera is cutting his teeth as a head coach with the U17 team. For my money, when his team is clicking, they play some of the most attractive soccer in the U.S. soccer system. Cabrera’s first cycle ended with a Round of 16 exit to Italy. Three players went on to MLS teams following the event, with forward Jack McInerney highlighting the group.
Cabrera’s tenure has been met with controversy though. After leaving Joseph Gyau off his U17 World Cup roster, he said, "It's because they (player’s left off the roster) didn't make it, or they got injured, or they don't want to be here. I'd rather have a less skillful player but more committed than a skillful player that is not committed with this."
Gyau signed a deal with German club, Hoffenheim, and he currently trains and plays in the Vancouver Whitecaps academy. Gyau has yet to return to a U.S. soccer team following the incident, but Rongen had mentioned him in his plans for 2011 when we spoke in December.
Cabrera will look to build on his 1992 team in 2011 with the 1994 group. The talent level doesn’t seem to match his previous team in the initial games from this cycle, but he still has a year to discover some talent and see what he can do in his second cycle in charge of the squad.
U15 Head Coach: Jim Barlow
First year: 2004
How He Got Here: Maryland and New Jersey Olympic Development Program coach
Current Job: Princeton head coach (1996-Present)
This team is the last chance to impress the coaching staff at the U.S. residency program before players begin their two-year sabbatical in Bradenton, Florida. So while this team doesn’t get much attention, there is a significant value placed on selecting the right players for the prestigious academy.
Barlow took over Bob Bradley’s college job as soon as the national team coach moved onto MLS. That year, 1995, also appears to be the last time Princeton put a significant contributor into MLS, Jesse Marsch.
U14 Head Coach: Manfred Schellscheidt
First year: 2000
How He Got Here: Coached the 1974 U.S. national team and the 1984 Olympic team.
Current Job: Seton Hall head coach (1988-Present)
This is the introductory team to the U.S. Youth system. This team is mainly called together for player identification, and they rarely play competitive matches.
Schellscheidt is the longest tenured coach in the U.S. system. He came from Germany to the United States after college and has been coaching ever since. He wrote a book in 1992, Youth League: Soccer Skills- Mastering the Ball. Seton Hall’s last appearance in the NCAA tournament was 2005.
From a Dutch coach to a Colombian to a German, the coaches of the U.S. Soccer staff are all over the map. Whether the eccentric blend of the cultures is beneficial or not could be argued until the end of time, but it does in an odd way befit the American mixing pot.
Quick Hits:
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
While researching all five of the coaches, two things immediately stood out to me: not one of the coaches ever played in Major League Soccer and there is no common thread among the coaches in terms of coaching philosophy or playing style.
Here is the rundown of the five coaches and a quick synopsis:
U20 Head Coach: Thomas Rongen
First Year: 2001-2005, 2006
How He Got Here: MLS head coach (D.C. United, New England Revolution, Tampa Bay Mutiny, and Chivas USA)
Last Job: Head coach Chivas USA
Rongen’s reign is always going to be met with controversy due to the Neven Subotic comments of feeling neglected by not being called up for the 2007 World Youth Championship. That drama aside, Rongen has done well at the major event for this age group.
His 2003 and 2007 teams each could potentially put three players on the full national team this summer for the World Cup. From the 2003 team, Eddie Johnson, Ricardo Clark, and Clint Dempsey all could factor in Bob Bradley’s final 23 players. For comparison’s sake, Mexico’s U23 team from that same year didn’t produce one player for this World Cup.
Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, and Robbie Rogers are the trio from the 2007 team with the chance to make the trip to South Africa. That is a pretty solid half-dozen from two of Rongen’s teams.
He has also led the team to a winning record at the event with seven wins, four losses, and one draw in three trips. Wins over Paraguay, Brazil, and Cameroon in pool play, and wins over Uruguay and Ivory Coast in the knock-out stages highlight his successes.
Also, there is no argument about Rongen’s ability to uncover even the most hidden Americans playing in Europe. He has given a look to many players that ply their trade in Europe even with vague ties to the U.S.
For those detractors of Rongen, player production and results are typically cyclical, and producing three out of 21 doesn’t seem like a good percentage. There probably could be a solid argument made about the players Rongen failed to take to the World Youth Championship and the ones he failed to play (Dempsey only played for 20 minutes in the five games U.S. played in 2003).
However, in Sigi Schmid’s lone trip with the U20s to the World Youth Championships, he failed to advance as far as Rongen had in the previous tournament. Schmid did defeat eventual champion, Argentina, in the group stages. though.
It is easy to place blame on Rongen for the Subotic debacle, and it is understandable to be frustrated by his style of play at times. However, for this age group, he has been a relatively successful coach both with player development and results in the biggest tournament.
While most countries promote or fire their U20 coach, Rongen has held a fairly long tenure with the position. Whether that has been beneficial or not is debatable, the truth remains that I am not certain a coach within the U.S. ranks currently would be able to replicate Rongen’s success.
U18 Head Coach: Mike Matkovich
First Year: 2008
How He Got Here: Founder of Chicago Magic in 1987
Current Job: assistant coach Chicago Fire
This year will be Matkovich’s first opportunity to prove his worth at the Milk Cup. The prestigious Northern Ireland tournament is typically considered the measuring stick for this age group. His first trip there will be bolstered by the addition of midfield youth star, Luis Gil.
Matkovich’s experience comes from founding one of the most successful youth clubs in the country, Chicago Magic. From there, he has been an assistant coach at three different MLS clubs (Toronto FC, Chivas USA, and Fire). He also coached the very successful Chicago Fire PDL team from 2001-2006.
U17 Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera
First Year: 2007
How He Got Here: Colombian international
Last Job: U.S. U18 assistant coach
Career Record in international tournaments - 2009: Won 2, lost 2
Cabrera is cutting his teeth as a head coach with the U17 team. For my money, when his team is clicking, they play some of the most attractive soccer in the U.S. soccer system. Cabrera’s first cycle ended with a Round of 16 exit to Italy. Three players went on to MLS teams following the event, with forward Jack McInerney highlighting the group.
Cabrera’s tenure has been met with controversy though. After leaving Joseph Gyau off his U17 World Cup roster, he said, "It's because they (player’s left off the roster) didn't make it, or they got injured, or they don't want to be here. I'd rather have a less skillful player but more committed than a skillful player that is not committed with this."
Gyau signed a deal with German club, Hoffenheim, and he currently trains and plays in the Vancouver Whitecaps academy. Gyau has yet to return to a U.S. soccer team following the incident, but Rongen had mentioned him in his plans for 2011 when we spoke in December.
Cabrera will look to build on his 1992 team in 2011 with the 1994 group. The talent level doesn’t seem to match his previous team in the initial games from this cycle, but he still has a year to discover some talent and see what he can do in his second cycle in charge of the squad.
U15 Head Coach: Jim Barlow
First year: 2004
How He Got Here: Maryland and New Jersey Olympic Development Program coach
Current Job: Princeton head coach (1996-Present)
This team is the last chance to impress the coaching staff at the U.S. residency program before players begin their two-year sabbatical in Bradenton, Florida. So while this team doesn’t get much attention, there is a significant value placed on selecting the right players for the prestigious academy.
Barlow took over Bob Bradley’s college job as soon as the national team coach moved onto MLS. That year, 1995, also appears to be the last time Princeton put a significant contributor into MLS, Jesse Marsch.
U14 Head Coach: Manfred Schellscheidt
First year: 2000
How He Got Here: Coached the 1974 U.S. national team and the 1984 Olympic team.
Current Job: Seton Hall head coach (1988-Present)
This is the introductory team to the U.S. Youth system. This team is mainly called together for player identification, and they rarely play competitive matches.
Schellscheidt is the longest tenured coach in the U.S. system. He came from Germany to the United States after college and has been coaching ever since. He wrote a book in 1992, Youth League: Soccer Skills- Mastering the Ball. Seton Hall’s last appearance in the NCAA tournament was 2005.
From a Dutch coach to a Colombian to a German, the coaches of the U.S. Soccer staff are all over the map. Whether the eccentric blend of the cultures is beneficial or not could be argued until the end of time, but it does in an odd way befit the American mixing pot.
Quick Hits:
- U.S. U15s finished their trip to Argentina last week with a 2-1-1 record. Wins over Bolivia and CA Argentinos Juniors. Adam Najem (Red Bulls academy) and Zach Pfeffer (FC Delco) both finished with team-leading two goals in the four games.
- Luis Gil, 16, made his RSL debut over the weekend in a reserve game. RSL reserves drew 1-1 against Mexico’s U21.
- Former U.S. U17 Zach Herold retired from soccer due to a health condition.
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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