ASN: U.S. Soccer hires Raphael Wicky as the top coach of the U-17 workforce

U.S. Soccer right this moment named Raphael Wicky as the top coach of america U-17 workforce. On paper it’s a powerful rent though the previous Basel head coach and Swiss nationwide workforce World Cup veteran is not going to have a lot time to arrange his workforce for CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifying which begins on Might 1. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 07, 2019
12:00 PM

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THE UNITED STATES U-17 nationwide workforce lastly has a coach as U.S. Soccer has employed former Swiss worldwide Raphael Wicky to guide the younger workforce into World Cup qualifying and, if profitable, the World Cup later this yr.

As a defensive midfielder, Wicky had 71 caps for Switzerland and performed within the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He additionally had a powerful profession that noticed him as an everyday Sion, Werder Bremen, Atletico Madrid, and Hamburg. He would later conclude his profession with one season at Chivas USA.

After his stint at Chivas USA, Wicky instantly transitioned into teaching the place he coached the youth groups at FC Thun, Servette, after which Basel. He was the primary workforce coach at FC Basel throughout 2017/18. Throughout his time as a youth coach he led U-18 workforce of Basel to the 2015 Swiss Cup and a runner up end in 2016. He then guided Basel’s U-19 workforce to the UEFA Youth League Spherical of 16 and the U-21 sqaud to a prime end within the Swiss third division.

When he coached the primary workforce in 2017/18, the workforce completed in second place within the Swiss Tremendous League and likewise coached in Champions League video games the place the membership superior out of the group phases and into the knockouts earlier than being eradicated by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis. 

“I’ve been following U.S. Soccer for more than 10 years now very closely since I played at Chivas USA and I’ve gotten to know the league,” Wicky stated. “It’s an exciting moment to come to U.S. Soccer, with the new MNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, with Earnie Stewart as a new GM. As a coach, it excites me to be a part of the process and working to help players grow.”

The USA U-17 head teaching job has been vacant since final summer season when John Hackworth left to takeover Louisville Metropolis FC. Since then, it has been dealt with by rotational interim coaches reminiscent of Shaun Tsakiris and Dave Van den Bergh. For Wicky, the place turned much more fascinating when he had discussions with new U.S. nationwide workforce supervisor Gregg Berhalter. 

“From the beginning of our conversation, we immediately started talking about tactics, about ideas, about principles, about how we see the game and I think we share similar ideas of soccer,” Wicky stated. “I wasn’t really surprised because I followed his team playing in Columbus over the last few years, so I saw the soccer he plays, I saw how he wants to build up from the back and I like that style because I share similar visions.”

Wicky does have private ties to america as his spouse is American and the 2 met in late 2016 and celebrated their marriage ceremony in her native Southern California this previous December. He has usually returned to america over the previous decade whereas teaching in Europe. 

Retired American ahead Alecko Eskandarian was teammates wtih Wicky at Chivas USA and the 2 remained involved ever since. Eskandarian, who had in depth expertise on U.S. youth nationwide groups, is optimistic on Wicky’s rent.

“Rapha and I were teammates in 2007 and have remained in touch since then,” Eskandarian stated. “It was great to see his rise in the coaching ranks with FC Basel, and lead his club in Champions League. As a player in MLS, he always expressed great pride in being part of a growing league and his admiration for the American culture. Throughout the years he has frequently come back to the US in the offseason, and I am delighted for him to return again for this opportunity.”

“Rapha has a fantastic soccer mind and will bring a wealth of knowledge to pass down to the youth,” Eskandarian added. “His playing experience in Germany, Spain, and MLS and his great work ethic will help him make an immediate impression. I’m excited for what the future holds for him.”

Present Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin can also be shut with Wicky and was additionally a part of the Chivas USA workforce. When Wicky was the top coach of Basel, Curtin traveled to Switzerland to go to him and see how he coached. Wicky additionally lately hung out in Philadelphia to observe Curtin and the Union gamers prepare. Curtin was all the time impressed with Wicky’s want to get entangled with soccer in america. 

“I am close with Rapha,” Curtin stated. “I actually went to Basel and spent about 10 days there last offseason. I spent a lot of time with Rapha and saw how he worked. He is incredible with his players and the amount of players he produced and promoted from within the academy who would then get sold for 20 or 30 million Euros to big clubs in Europe – he’s a great talent developer. I spent a lot of time and a lot of meals with him and I saw him as a guy with a real interest in U.S. Soccer, in MLS in particular. He was even asking me: ‘Jim, are there any USL jobs open?’ And this is a guy who was in the Champions League and literally preparing for Man City when I was there.”

This job might be difficult for Wicky who is not going to have a number of time to get to know his workforce or construct it up for the U-17 CONCACAF Championships – which function the area’s qualifying match for the U-17 World Cup. In April, there might be a U-17 camp and it is going to be the workforce’s solely camp previous to the beginning of the CONCACAF Championship.

“The first step is to get to know the players better. I’ve been watching a lot of video, a lot of different games, then I’ll be able to meet them at the beginning of April at our first training camp,” stated Wicky. “Then it’s to set common goals and to start working together. It’s short, it’s challenging, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think the goal of a National Team coach is to get everyone on the same page. They’re all playing for different clubs, in different systems with different principles, so when they come to the National Team you have to make sure that everybody is going in the same direction. I’m in communication daily with people from U.S. Soccer, and every day I get more information and more contacts with clubs.” 

That match will open on Might 1 in Bradenton, Florida and america will play its first recreation in opposition to Canada on Might 2 (adopted by Barbados on Might 4 and Guatemala on Might 6). The highest three groups advance to spherical of 16 knockout phases. The winners of the quarterfinal video games advance to the World Cup in October. That match was initially scheduled to happen in Peru however FIFA determined to relocated the match and the rumor is that it’s going to now happen in Brazil.