What's Wrong with US?

May 15, 2018

On the eve of the 2018 World Cup, for which the U.S. men's team failed to qualify, Hall of Fame soccer coach Arena, with Kettmann (Baseball Maverick), presents a state-of-the-game analysis: why aren't Americans competing at a higher level and how can that be achieved? Arena's playing experience and, even more importantly his unprecedented coaching success in the college ranks, Major League Soccer, and with the U.S. men's national team, give him an invaluable perspective. Most of his book is autobiographical, followed by a brief, practical section outlining the steps necessary to accelerate the sport's progress in the United States. Arena believes we will one day hold the World Cup trophy, even after the disappointment of missing the 2018 tournament. His passion for the game and clear-headed breakdown of how to reach the next level provides important reading for soccer fans, coaches, and players eager to be part of the sport's next chapter. VERDICT Recommended for sports fans and soccer enthusiasts at all levels.--Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 21, 2018
Former U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) coach Arena argues for an overhaul of how soccer is managed in the United States in this coach’s memoir cum road map to making America competitive on the world soccer stage. Clearly, this would have been a different book had the Arena-managed USMNT not failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and the bulk of the book is a straightforward and fairly good coach’s memoir. Arena depicts the human side of managing elite athletes, and a host of inside-the-dressing room moments add color, as when the national team sang an impromptu karaoke version of “My Way” on the team bus after losing to Germany in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals. Arena’s prescription to fix soccer is commonsensical and hinges mostly on hiring people to run the league and national team who have a better technical understanding of the sport and can do more to develop young players. G the book’s title, the relative lack of pages dedicated to the topic is disappointing. USMNT fans will definitely want to pick this up, but those looking for a comprehensive plan for reform will find only an outline of one here.

June 1, 2018
Readers looking to answer the question posed by the somewhat unfortunate title can turn to the end, where Arena offers his prescription for U.S. soccer success?but then they'd miss his journey from dynasty-building college coach to one of the most famous figures on the sidelines of our professional and international games. Yes, space is devoted to the U.S. men's failure to qualify for this year's World Cup in Russia; and, throughout, Arena lives up to his forthright reputation, no doubt reigniting the ire of various people in the soccer world. (While his laconic voice comes through, seams do show in parts patched together from old newspaper reports and interviews conducted by his coauthor.) And what, after all, is wrong? No surprise that Arena differs strongly from his predecessor, J�rgen Klinsmann, in an MLS-first approach, urging our top league to work together with U.S. Soccer for better development of American players. That and other suggestions informed by hard work and long experience will make this of interest to U.S. fans still wondering how to make things right.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)