FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Steve Sampson, who had never coached a professional team before taking his current job with the United States national side, will be the least experienced of all the team bosses at France 98.

Sampson was appointed head coach in April 1995 after serving as one of three assistant coaches to Bora Milutinovic at the 1994 World Cup finals. It was expected to be a purely temporary appointment, but the results Sampson chalked up ensured he got the job on a permanent basis despite his lack of “serious” experience.

All Sampson’s previous coaching had been done at college level. He guided Santa Clara to the 1989 NCAA Division One title and was named College coach of the year for the achievement. During five seasons at Santa Clara, his team compliled a record of 64 wins 19 losses and 19 draws. It seemed a huge step up to the World Cup qualifying tournament, but the 40-year-old Californian has an encyclopaedic knowledge of international football, speaks fluent Spanish and has been quick to learn.

Sampson has also proved he is prepared to make tough decisions, including the shock axing of the vastly experienced John Harkes just two months out from the start of the World Cup. Not only has Sampson now guided the United States to the World Cup finals with only one loss in qualifying matches, but the Americans also reached the final of this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup before losing 1-0 to Mexico in the final. They beat world champions Brazil in the semis.

“Steve and his players have been given a number of great challenges and they have responded each time,” said United States Soccer Federation president Alan Rotherberg. “We are very confident that he and his players are up to the challenge ahead in France.” Sampson believes his team’s recent successes, coming on the back of the 1994 World Cup, will help football flourish in the United States.

“Americans tend to be big event supporters,” he said. “When our teams do well in the big events that can only help the sport.” With that in mind, Sampson has set the Americans a target of reaching the last eight in France—one better than their second-round finish in 1994. He also wants them to play with style. “I want us to play better. It’s not good enough to me just to get results, I want us to do it in style,” he said.

That may not be easy with a combination of European professionals and MSL players, but Sampson has shown he thrives on a challenge. Now he has to lift his team to overachieve once more—this time in the toughest of all sporting arenas.