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The departure of Bob Bradley allowed the USA to bring in a manager that for so long, kept getting away from them. After failing to sign Klinsmann after World Cup 2006, and then again in 2010 after Bob Bradley was given a short lived extension, the USMNT finally appointed the German manager in July of 2011.
After 31 matches in charge of the USMNT, Klinsmann has had his ups and downs, but looking ahead to the Gold Cup, the former Germany manager could have a shot at some silverware.
Their current run of form will certainly put them in prime position to come out on top in the competition. Having won their last three World Cup 2014 Qualification matches has not only given the American's a big confidence boost, but it also has them very close to securing a place in the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.
But, before they can focus on their next qualification matches for the World Cup, they will need to lean on Klinsmann and his experience in order to be successful in the Gold Cup.
As a player, Klinsmann only managed seven club and international accolades, but that is very far from how talented he was. Making the transition over to a manager has not been all that easy, but Klinsmann will have a good chance to add some silverware to his very young managerial career.
His spell with the German National Team lasted approximately two years, and in that time, Klinsmann led his country to 20 victories, six draws and only eight defeats. A total of 81 goals scored put his side at an average of 2.4 goals per game, but that did not turn out to be good enough. After finishing with a winning percentage of 58%, Klinsmann declined to renew his contract with the German Federation.
A short stint at Bayern Munich in 2008 still allowed Klinsmann to keep a positive winning percentage as a manager, but at the moment, Klinsmann's winning percentage with the USMNT is at 54%. Their presence in the Gold Cup should give Klinsmann the perfect opportunity to bring that percentage up, especially given the group they are up against.
The American players will need to feed off of all of Klinsmann's knowledge and experience, giving them the chance to really learn a lot from the 48 year-old manager, who celebrates a birthday later this month. What a better way to celebrate a 49th birthday, than with a Gold Cup title.
Going up against Ian Mork (Belize), Jorge Luis Pinto (Costa Rica) and Walter Benitez (Cuba) puts Klinsmann as the front runner when it comes to who should have the upper hand. With a number of young players, along with players who are looking to learn from someone who has played on the big stage , the lower level of pressure from the Gold Cup is the perfect scenario for the players, and the manager.
Do you think that Klinsmann's illustrious playing career, along with his coaching career will help guide the USMNT to Gold Cup glory?
