NEW YORK — Dave Sarachan, who has had a lengthy spell as caretaker of the United States men’s national team, held court at the New York Red Bulls training facility Monday prior to his initial training session with a group of 25 hopefuls at camp.
Sarachan is in charge of two friendlies – his seventh and eighth since becoming the interim head coach last November — Friday versus Brazil at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. and Tuesday in Nashville against rival Mexico.
After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, former U.S. manager Bruce Arena departed and his assistant, Sarachan, was summoned by U.S. Soccer to secure the program.
The federation has been mum on Arena’s permanent replacement while Sarachan attempts to nurture the next generation of contributors. In six matches as the boss, the senior team has two wins, one loss and three ties, including an impressive 1-1 draw June 9 in Lyon against the eventual World Cup champion France.
The odds that Sarachan secures the top position could be longer than the the 5,000-to-1 figure overcome by Leicester City to conquer the English Premier League in 2016 .
Neither U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro nor recently-named General Manager Earnie Stewart have approached Sarachan, who has coached full-time at the collegiate and professional levels since 1983.
“I don’t think about that,” Sarachan said. “My instincts have told me to look forward and try to vet some of these prospects we think have a future. It’s been an honor, and the group has responded. We’ve established now somewhat of a core of guys that have taken on that responsibility of turning the page and looking forward.”
Sarachan has called in a 25-player roster with an average age of 23.7 while leaving veterans, such as striker Jozy Altidore, out of the squad.
“You know, I still felt that this early part of the fall kickoff series to continue the way we sort of established this group,” Sarachan said. “I don’t have a road map as to the exact time it makes the most sense. Right now, the focus is the group we have here. Down the line we’ll address that issue.”
Although Sarachan may find himself outside of that decision-making consortium.
“My focus really is Brazil and then Mexico – that’s not being coach speak,” Sarachan said. “My wife asks me all the time what my future is going to be, but I look at it day by day, just doing my job and enjoying the role.”