U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said the next coach of the men's national team must be “relentless” and have a proven track record of getting results.
The U.S. Soccer Federation is in the process of searching for a new head coach after Gregg Berhalter was fired from the role following the USMNT's elimination in the group stage of the Copa America on home soil this summer.
“For me and the young team and the situation we're in, I think we need someone who's almost a little bit ruthless and puts everyone in their place and understands that 'listen, this is what needs to be done and this is the way we're going to do it,'” he told Men in Blazers.
“And there's really no ifs and buts, it's not really a conversation, it's more of a decision that's made and that's how we're going to play.”
Whoever replaces Berhalter will be tasked with leading the team through the World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico in less than two years. And Adams says that limited time frame means it's crucial to get a coach who has experience.
“I think that's always the best way when you're short on time,” he added. “You see it all the time in the Premier League, when they sack a manager after three or four games, the best way to get results is to sign someone and have someone you know what they're going to do before they even arrive.”
“I don't think we have much time left if everyone wants to focus on the goal of the 2026 World Cup and we want the best possible result, then we need to get someone who has already achieved results.”
U.S. Soccer director Matt Crocker has said he wants to hire the best coach possible “whether it's from the United States or anywhere else,” and has aimed to have someone in place in time for the U.S. national team's friendlies against Canada and New Zealand next month.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and American-born Hoffenheim boss Pellegrino Matarazzo have so far ruled themselves out of the race.
Adams is highly unlikely to feature when the United States returns to the field against Canada on Sept. 7 after undergoing recent back surgery, which has ruled him out of the start of the Premier League season with Bournemouth.
