Morning Ticker: Arena wants a job, Lippi eyeing England, USC women win title

Bruce Arena wants a job.

The former U.S. national team and Red Bulls coach has expressed his interest in the vacant Scotland job. It is a pretty smart move by Arena because coaching a UK national team is one way to score a club manager job in England, which I believe is Arena's ultimate goal.

Does he have a real chance of getting the job? I really don't think so. Not because he doesn't have the credentials, but because one thing Scotland doesn't have a shortage of is coaches. The tiny nation must produce the most soccer coaches/managers per capita of any top soccer nation.

You have to wonder whether Arena's interest in the Scotland gig will lead New England coach Steve Nicol to throw his hat into the ring. Why shouldn't he?

Marcelo Lippi is among the front-runners for the England job. Italy's World Cup-winning coach appears ready to return from his lengthy coaching hiatus and has joined Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho has leading candidates to take over the England manager's job. There are reports suggesting that Mourinho is backing out of the race. If he does then Lippi has to be considered the front-runner.

USC women win national championship. Congratulations to the USC women's soccer team on winning its first NCAA championship. I will post on the men's NCAA tournament results later today.

What do you think of the above stories? Do you think Arena would be a good fit for Scotland? Do you think he has a better chance of being re-hired by the Red Bulls? Do you like Lippi's chances to manage England? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[BrianK]

I think that Bruce Arena believed that after he lead the USMNT to the second round of WC 2006 in Germany, he was going to get a prime job at the club level in the U.K. That obviously went down the tubes thanks to Mastro's ill advised tackle against Italy, Boca's unexplainable overhead back-pass into the USA box. BA took the Red Bull money but was never really satisfied from a professional development point of view. That said,...he has no chance in getting the a job with a premier league team. Bruce,...you are getting coal for Christmas.

[undrafted]

Scotland's FA would be smart to go after Nicol.

Nicol's reasons for staying put:
1) He'd rather live in the US
2) see #1
3) Job security in Britain sucks
4) You're stuck with a limited playing pool as Scotland's manager. Anyone starting in the EPL or the firm demands a place in the squad. Nicol carefully picked his group for the Revs and has made few changes. He knows what he wants. He fits players into his system and it works.
5) No Rangers/Celtic issues in squad selection here.
6) I'd bet he's already wealthy
7) Did I mention the weather in Scotland?

[papa bear]

Arena has to be joking. A coach who's sole strategy is dropping 5 d-mids and praying counter attacks isn't exactly a footballing genius.
Then again, its not like Scotland wouldn't have to play a fair amount of that.
I think San Marino or Luxembourg would be more his speed right now.

[AJ]

No way Arena gets that job. If he can't make it work with the US in Germany, he's not going to get Scotland to a World Cup. He probably wouldn't get them to Euro either. If a job in the Caribbean opens up, he'd have a shot. Short of that, Arena stays unemployed.

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

If Arena gets any job, that team will tank.

Although, he could probably coach someone like Derby who only boots the ball upfield anyways. His tactics are similar.

[Jim]

Scotland is a rising team and will have a good choice of candidates for the job.

If Arena could not get along with the press in the US what makes him think he is prepared for Scotland or the EPL? Qualifying the US for two WC's is nice and he did a very good job in 02 but after the disaster in Germany he must be nuts. I am sure the Scottish press will say he is unprepared for the job of Euro WC qualifying and they are right. He should look at the SPL or English Championship for a more realistic shot at a job.

[Dominghosa]

It's a good thing for Arena to at least try. Can't blame a man for trying.
Failing to get it is another story (and a more probably one.)
As for SUC (yes, SUC) winning the national title, the only thing good about that is first-year coach Ali Khosroshahin (I didn't even have to look that up) formerly coached Cal State Fullerton six years prior.
While covering that team a few years ago, Ali was great to work with and also hard to work with. But glad to see him successful.
The guy can definitely coach and recruit, which will keep SUC in the collegiate women's soccer spotlight for a long time.

[siv]

good for him. he needs a change. Listen it wouldn't be so bad for American soccer... can someone say if there has ever been an American coaching oversees? It would be a stern test. he's had a few bad years but hopefully he can turn it around.

Remember he was as unlucky in 2006 as he was lucky in 2002. Although luck has a way of reflecting the real situation.

[adam]

way to go Lady Trojans. My best friend Ashley Nick is the Co-Captain of that incredible squad. lol This is the only time you'll ever see a Cal student rep USC...i PROMISE.

[Ricky B]

I suspect The Sun might be making up some quotes- can anyone imagine Bruce Arena using the word "keen"? Not saying he didn't express interest, just that he probably didn't use those exact words.

[Ed Ho]

Arena's onvious P*n*s envy (aka Europe envy) is hilarious. I'm not sure who he thought he impressed with his record overall in Europe and specifically at last years WC whil with US national team.

No way he gets a job in one of Europe's top leagues or with one of their national teams w/o first taking a lower position - maybe Andorra is looking for a coach, or possibly Red Bull Salzburg :)

[Pete]

Ives, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the only sniff Arena got in Europe from Brondby in Denmark? And that was after the 2002 WC!

If he's serious about coaching in Europe, he'll probably have to take the OZ route and start in Moldova or some similar backwater.

[Will]

England should hire Capello. Mourinho flaked out on them, deciding he wants to manage a club (shocking, I know).

Bruce Arena being employed is laughable. Though at least he wouldn't be in ESPN anymore.

[Lawrence]

You guys are idiots. How is Bruce's record bad???
VA-> Stunning
DC-> Stunning
WCQ 02->Good
WC 02->Excellent
WCQ 06->Excellent
WC 06-> Fair, considering player pool, group of death, player faults, and bad luck
NY-> Good, considering Jozy's absences, injuries, both GK's dropping dead, and 1 goal getting scored while Angel was out with a concussion.

Everyone thinks his resume is trash, but let's be real folks, it's barely blemished.

I'm not a Arena lover, and I think it was time the US progressed further from what he built, but to say he's not a good coach is like saying Rothesburger is an awful QB because he got spanked by the Pats. You guys are extrapolating minute errors.

His style of play is no Arsenal or Barcelona style, for sure. But his coaching style will put most any team in mid to upper mid of the pack. Not to mention the players he would need would be cheap for the most part, saving money for the 1 or 2 expensive impact players he would want.

What he should do, if he wants to coach, is try the Fire, or a Championship side.

Folks, remember when you laugh at Arena as a coach, that he has achieved more than most coaches in the world. He's not a top 20 coach at all, but I think it's fair to say he's in the top 5% in accomplishments.

[Ed Ho]

Lawrence,

Just to make sure I have this correct - you rate the 2002 world cup as excellent?

I think the Quarters were a little misleading. The US record at that WC was 2-2-1. They suprised Portugal and barely hung on. Then, they tied Korea 1-1 despite being outshot 19-6. To close out group play, they were crushed by Poland 3-1. Luckily though, Korea, playing a home game, scored in the 70th minute to beat Portugal and send the US through. The US finished 2nd.

So, with that, they got a huge break and faced Mexico which was a sweet win, but still over a CONCACAF foe. Finally, they draw Germany and get beaten despit playing well.

So, I'd give coaching a B at best in that tournament. Our biggest advantage was Portugal not be prepared - which isn't the 1st time that has happened.

Bruce is not a Top level international coach.

[John]

More people would think Arena was a fine coach if he did not have such a prickly personality. I used to think a lot more of Wynalda and Lalas until they started opening their mouths on TV. Arena seems to have burned a lot of bridges.

Still Scotland have a long list to choose from before they get to him so this rumour seems unlikely to be true. Besides, he doesn't speak the language.

[JL]

I was watching the USC-FSU game and noticed that there was a time out in each half. Is this called by the team or an official time out for TV?

I'm not really interested in women's college soccer, but thought this a little odd.