Uwe Lein / AP

As a player, Juergen Klinsmann scored 11 goals in three World Cups, 1990, 1994 and 1998. That ties him for sixth on the all-time scoring list, just behind Pele.

Klinsmann helped key West Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning team and European Championship-winning German team in 1996. He retired in 1998 and moved to the U.S. shortly afterward.

Klinsmann became Germany's coach in 2004, after the team's poor showing in the 2004 European championships. Klinsmann led the team to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup, which was hosted by Germany. In 34 matches, Klinsmann's record was 20-8-6.

"Certainly there isn't any player currently on the national team or any players that could be brought in that can say 'Juergen hasn't done it,'" Sampson said. "That's the overriding advantage that Juergen has."

He went on to coach the German club Bayern Munich but lasted less than a full season after falling out of favor with management. He has worked as a consultant since, most recently with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC.

"I think it's good for US Soccer," Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. "I know that Juergen is a guy that they've been talking to off and on over the number of years right after Bruce Arena left and Juergen left Germany. I knew it was a possibility then. Obviously in the interim time, they've been able to work out whatever issues or differences there were."

The USSF fired Bradley on Thursday — less than a year after giving him a new contract through 2014.

Bradley led the U.S. team to considerable success and several big moments, including an appearance in the round of 16 at last year's World Cup in South Africa and a victory over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup.

But the Americans took a step backward this summer, and a stinging 4-2 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final last month — the U.S. blew a 2-0 lead — appears to have persuaded Gulati it was time to make a change.

"I'm disappointed at the loss of Bob because I felt the national team was in transition and he needed more time to complete the job," Sampson said.

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