Bruce Arena thinks Jurgen Klinsmann did a good job recruiting players to USMNT

By Aaron West
Published

Ahead of the USMNT's crucial qualifier against Honduras on Friday (10:30 p.m. ET on FS1), Bruce Arena spoke with Colin Cowherd on "The Herd."

When asked what elements of previous manager Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as leader of the USMNT he admired, Arena talked up Klinsmann's ability to recruit players.


I think to Jurgen's credit, he was able to attract some new faces into the US program, and some players abroad. Players like John Brooks, who’s going to be available tonight. Unfortunately, players like Fabian Johnson and Timmy Chandler won’t be available, but he did a good job in helping build the roster. And many of those players are going to be playing tonight. There’s not going to be a whole lot of new faces, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to be able to change this roster. We don’t have that kind of flexibility, but for the most part I think he did a real good job piecing together a roster. It’s my job to make this group of individuals into a team, and a better team than we saw in November.


Under Klinsmann's supervision, the United States gave debuts to Brooks, Christian Pulisic, and Darlington Nagbe, who will all likely start tonight against Honduras. Johnson and Chandler aren't available due to injury, joining another Klinsmann recruit, Bobby Wood.

Klinsmann's tenure as USMNT coach may not have ended in glory, but there were some bright points along the way. His recruitment policy did indeed give the US some quality additions, and Arena is fully aware of that fact.