Savvy Business Move: Spain's Manager Luis de la Fuente Wins Euro, Promptly Leaks To The World He's Interested In The USA Job
[Source] - Spain coach Luis De La Fuente, who just led his team to a dominant showing in Euro 2024 that culminated in a title, is interested in coaching the United States men's national team, according to the Washington Post.
De La Fuente's representatives have emailed the U.S. Soccer Federation about the coach's interest in the position, they confirmed to the Post. The job opened up when USSF sporting director Matt Crocker dismissed Gregg Berhalter on Wednesday's after the USMNT's disastrous Copa América group stage exit on home soil.
Oh hell yeah! Nothing like having a top manager in the world say he's interested in your job and everyone knows it's likely just for a better deal at Spain. Never seen this before. Never seen some coaching negotiations. I mean don't get me wrong, I wish I could believe that de la Fuente was truly interested in the US job but it's the same job Jesse Marsch said he'd have no interest in it because of how the US Soccer Federation operates.
Going back to that, if Matt Crocker could somehow pull THIS off? Yeah, I'll take back all the things I said about him being a joke and should have been fired with Gregg Berhalter. Now the US Soccer Federation still has to prove us wrong. Have some honest, true meetings with people outside the MLS world. If it ends up being Cherundolo as the next manager, fine. Just lead a real job search. Don't have Matt Crocker come out and tell me he ran the analytics and it still told him Gregg was the best guy to re-hire. Be willing to get creative with how you find a way to pay a real manager.
I'm not getting my hopes up for this. You don't win Euro and then just so happen to let the world know you want the US job. Just walk in and demand a raise from Spain for doing what you've done already.