As U.S. Soccer Federation continues their search for Bruce Arena’s successor, former France and Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc revealed on Monday that he turned down the opportunity to take over the United States men’s national soccer team.
“I was approached to coach internationally but it was a no. Especially when it is not your own country,” – Blanc told to Le Parisien. “International coaching must touch your national [roots]. Because of this, I turned it down.” The magazine said that the international job offers in question were from Australia and the United States.
Blanc also added that he is more interested in taking over a club. He hasn’t coached since 2016 when PSG sacked him after he failed to lead the team past the Champions League quarterfinals.
Previously, Blanc’s agent Jean-Pierre Berne revealed that both of these nations were looking for his client’s services.
“He’s looking forward to starting again, but he doesn’t want to coach for coaching’s sake. He wants to try to get a big project, at a big club. If the project doesn’t arrive, we’ll see. We get offers all the time, from clubs from national teams…,” – said Berne before adding: “The USA, Australia for the World Cup…“
The U.S. Soccer federation, however, said that they didn’t have any formal talks with the candidates. “We have not had formal discussions with any potential candidates at this point in our coaching search,” – said the Federation’s statement.
It is believed that the USMNT won’t get a coach until February 2018 when the presidential elections in the Federation will take place.
Dave Sarachan, who led the team in the friendly against Portugal is expected to make a return in the January’s friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
