United States national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann says he isn’t going anywhere, and that previous media reports linking him anew to Tottenham have no foundation.
As soon as Harry Redknapp became the media-appointed favorite to inherit England’s national team job – fabled post that it is – identifying Redknapp’s successor for Spurs became the next natural link along the story chain. And since Klinsmann had once been a White Hart Lane fixture in the 1990s, his name was cycled through the media wash.
Klinsmann addressed the rumors Saturday during an interview with Marc Stein on the Soccer Today radio show / podcast. (Full discloser: I work as Stein’s partner on the show.)I know the English media,” Klinsmann told Soccer Today. "... It’s just normal that they throw out names.
“I have a wonderful relationship with Tottenham and with all my teams that I played (with) as a player. I know the people (there), I know the environment. It’s a wonderful club. But I said that already weeks ago that I’m extremely proud and privileged to be U.S. national team coach. I’m not starting a job or a project and giving it up after a couple months. That’s not me.
“I want to guide (U.S.) players toward a level hopefully that they will reach and hopefully we will have, after successful qualification, a great World Cup in Brazil (in 2014). Then in soccer, like in any other environment, you never know what happens. (But) when there are speculations coming from Europe, it gives you a quick smile and you move on.”I’ll post the full show when it’s up on the site, available for download. Klinsmann also talks about big win over Italy in Genoa and about Clint Dempsey’s reign in West London.