It's been more than a decade since Bruce Arena last coached the U.S. men's national soccer team, an eight-year run that included both historic and disappointing World Cup performances.
Now he's back, assigned with righting a 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign that lost its way under Jurgen Klinsmann and is in danger of missing the sport's quadrennial spectacle for the first time since 1986.
The U.S. Soccer Federation on Tuesday announced that Arena, a three-time MLS Cup champion the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Galaxy, will take over the program, effective Dec. 1.
"When we considered the possible candidates to take over the men's national team at this time, Bruce was at the top of the list," USSF President Sunil Gulati said in a written statement.