Angels Links: Bruce Arena out, Sunil Gulati remains

Bruce Arena resigns as United States manager after World Cup miss

The fallout continues from the disaster that is the United States missing the World Cup after losing against Trinidad & Tobago. USMNT Manager Bruce Arena has officially resigned, as many expected and as many were calling for. He said the team “did not get the job done,“ and has a good bunch of quotes in this ESPN article. Arena remains the winningest coach in U.S. history and is in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, with three Gold Cups, a World Cup Quarterfinals Appearance in 2002, and an all-time record of 81-32-35.

Sunil Gulati will not resign as U.S. Soccer president

Meanwhile, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati held a press conference call this morning, a just an hour or so after Arena resigned. Some expected this press conference to be the announcement of Arena no longer being manager, but since it came after the resignation, the questions were focused entirely towards Gulati. He told the media he has no intention of resigning, and that he will decide if he runs in February, citing the United States World Cup Bid as a reason he should be there. Pro Soccer Talk took running notes of the conference call if you want to check it out, but it was a very underwhelming response from the man on top.

PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi accused of World Cup bribe by Swiss prosecutor

Paris Saint-Germain’s Chairman Nasser al-Khelaifi has been accused in Switzerland of bribing a FIFA executive so he could buy TV rights for the World Cup. Al-Khelaifi, also chairman of beIN SPORTS, has been named in criminal proceedings in the Swiss Attorney General’s office, accused of bribing Fifa secretary general Jérôme Valcke for the TV rights for beIN for the World Cups in 2026 and 2030. BeIN has refuted the accusations and said they will cooperate with the investigation, but this is not the last time we are going to hear about this.

New England Revs owner Kraft 'intrigued' by Premier League

New England Revolution and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said that the possibility of owning a Premier League Club is “intriguing.“ Kraft was linked with buying Liverpool in 2005, but has said that he is hesitant because of a lack of familiarity with the game in England. Kraft is one of the original owners in the MLS, helping to found the league and helping to keep it afloat in some times of trouble, so keep an eye on this as to whether he throws his hat in the ring for an EPL club.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!