A decade ago, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati decided Bruce Arena wasn’t the man to lead the national team anymore and declined to renew his contract as head coach.
On Tuesday, Gulati had a chance of heart, prying Arena away from the Galaxy to rescue a struggling U.S. program in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.
“I don’t view it as Bruce 2 but sort of Bruce 2.0,” Gulati said in naming Arena to replace Jurgen Klinsmann, who was fired as the national team coach Monday.