When U.S. Soccer employed Raphael Wicky because the U.S. U-17 nationwide staff head coach, it shocked many who he took the job with such a formidable resume. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with Wicky on plenty of completely different matters together with the U-17 job, why he got here to the US, and the expansion the game over the previous 10 years.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
April 30, 2019
3:30 AM
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THE UNITED STATES U-17 nationwide staff will open its CONCACAF Championship event on Thursday towards Canada. It’s going to kickoff a event that will even function the area’s World Cup qualifying and for the U.S. staff’s new coach Raphael Wicky, will probably be the beginning his objective to assist American soccer.
Wicky, 41, took the job not too long ago in March and has had only one minicamp with the staff to arrange for this event. As a participant he represented Switzerland on the European Championships in 1996 and 2004 in addition to on the 2006 World Cup. He concluded his taking part in profession with Chivas USA throughout the 2008 MLS season.
However Wicky additionally has loved stellar success as a coach in Switzerland. He began his teaching profession working youth groups at FC Thun and Servette. He then moved to FC Basel the place he coached the U-18 staff adopted by the U-21 staff. In 2017, he was promoted as the top coach of FC Basel’s first staff which he would additionally qualify for the knockout levels of the UEFA Champions League earlier than being eradicated by Manchester Metropolis.
However Wicky has all the time stored an eye fixed on returning to the US to teach and not too long ago married an American over the winter. Now the Leuggern native will start this new part of his profession as the US U-17 nationwide staff coach.
ASN spoke completely with Wicky from Bradenton, Florida on Tuesday morning because the staff prepares for its CONCACAF opener towards Canada on Thursday.
Brian Sciaretta for ASN: Congratulations in your current rent because the U.S. U-17 nationwide staff coach. Clearly with getting employed in March, you do not have a whole lot of time for this World Cup qualifying event. How is the staff taking a look at this stage and the way ready is it for the event forward?
Raphael Wicky: Thanks. I’m very glad to be right here and have this job. It isn’t a whole lot of time however I knew that coming in. It is a problem however all of us love challenges. It is a good problem. We had this mini-camp earlier within the month which was good for me and the employees to see the group and to know the group in individual – not solely from video. I obtained a whole lot of affirmation from what I noticed from the footage of the earlier video games which I used to be watching.
It is a actually good group the with actually good power and actually good staff spirit – in addition to all of the technical and tactical qualities of which they’ve in addition to the expertise. This is without doubt one of the matters which may be very, essential. The group likes being collectively. Ultimately, that makes a extremely good staff. I used to be actually happy after I noticed that stay earlier in April.
ASN: You had a whole lot of success in Europe at a excessive stage. What made you wish to come to the US at this level in your profession.
Wicky: There have been completely different causes. Sure, I had a pleasant profession in Europe and I had a whole lot of youth years the place I used to be studying the job. I’m nonetheless studying the job. As a coach you might be studying on a regular basis. I used to be following the U.S. marketplace for over 10 years since I used to be at Chivas USA. I got here forwards and backwards [to the USA] I used to be following it on web sites and on tv. I had a whole lot of pals who I performed with there who’re teaching now or are concerned within the recreation within the states. It was all the time in my thoughts at some point to return to the US. Then I had actually good talks with individuals from the U.S. federation.
I believe it’s actually an thrilling time to return into this market and the federation. It is an thrilling time with all of the modifications – with Earnie Stewart and Gregg coming in, with the World Cup in 2026. All of that’s thrilling and it is thrilling to be a part of the event of it. I believe with the league and soccer on the whole since I used to be right here grew loads. It is a lot, a lot stronger. All of that makes this market very fascinating for me. I’m actually glad to be right here to study as a coach and to develop, but additionally to make this nation even higher. There may be a lot expertise and there’s a lot potential for this nation for soccer. All of that’s actually thrilling.
ASN: I do know you have been not too long ago at GA Cup. I do know Seattle received it with some spectacular wins. What did you are taking away from that event and who stood out for you.
Wicky: It was actually good for me to see that the extent of the event was actually good. There have been actually good groups from all around the world – from South America, from Europe, from the US. I wasn’t shocked that the US did nicely. The result’s one level however we should not all the time solely decide the end result as a result of generally you lose and have an excellent recreation and generally you win and you do not play nicely. That’s simply soccer and it is not predictable. However the way in which the groups performed, the types, the completely different philosophies, the work ethic, that was actually good to see on the GA Cup.
The academies of the US did actually, rather well towards the highest groups in Europe. That exhibits as nicely that soccer on this nation is on the rise. It has grown far more and the standard will get higher yearly. The academies have grown and are far more skilled than 10 years in the past. It’s good to see, it’s promising and superb to see.
ASN: What type do you wish to play with this group and what can we search for on the CONCACAF event this month? What are the staff’s strengths.
Wicky: I’ve a short while clearly with the staff however I’m very pleased with the work the staff has carried out on the minicamp and now within the 5 days right here. Once I noticed the Nike friendlies and another video games, it is in regards to the staff. I wish to see what I noticed within the different head coaches. It is working as a staff and being collectively on the sphere.
There may be a whole lot of particular person expertise however particular person expertise just isn’t going to win you a contest. What we wish to see is that the staff works arduous for one another in each second and that they are courageous and that they by no means surrender. In addition to the opposite tactical issues we’re engaged on, it is primarily that you just’re pleased with being part of a U.S. nationwide staff and taking part in 4 your nation. I do not suppose it is smart to enter techniques as a result of we’re engaged on issues and it is too particular. It is primarily that this group is proud and able to work collectively.
ASN: One of the crucial talked about gamers coming into this event for the US is Ricardo Pepi who signed for North Texas within the USL and has 4 targets in his first two video games. He appears to be an enormous a part of this staff’s offense and was additionally an enormous story due to his skill to play for Mexico. What have you ever seen from him to date and what can we anticipate from him within the weeks forward.
Wicky: I solely noticed Ricardo in footage first after which I met him on the minicamp as nicely like a whole lot of the opposite gamers. I’m very glad to have him on this staff. I believe with him and Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, we have now actually good strikers. They’re completely different and are not the identical sort of strikers. Ricardo is a No. 9 who is de facto scientific within the field. He is a finisher however he additionally has a sure dimension which brings an excellent aerial recreation.
There may be room for progress however at his age [he turned 16 in January], he has an excellent aerial recreation as nicely. I really feel he’s fairly mature on the sphere. His determination making is definitely fairly mature for such a younger child. I’m glad he’s right here and I believe he’s glad to be right here – that’s what I really feel. I’m positive he’s going to be essential for this staff on this competitors and additional on as nicely.
ASN: What did that one season at Chivas USA imply for you? You’ve got stayed in shut contact with a whole lot of your former gamers like Jesse Marsch Alecko Eskandarian, and Jim Curtin – with plenty of gamers on that staff now having stable teaching jobs. What did you are taking away from that have?
Wicky: That is true. I used to be solely there for a yr and three months and I could not even play that a lot since I used to be typically injured. However we had a extremely good staff at the moment. They’re good guys and that’s what I discussed earlier. The personalities within the staff and the bonding have been essential subsequent to the person expertise. We had that as nicely 10 years in the past.
We obtained alongside nicely and I stored in contact with just a few of them through the years. Each time I got here again to the states and LA, we met up. It is good. On the time we did not know that we have been all going to turn out to be coaches. I do not suppose many people deliberate that 10 years in the past. However that is what occurred and that’s most likely a cause why proper now we’re all nonetheless someway in contact.
ASN: Soccer in the US took a reasonably large hit two years in the past when the staff did not qualify for the World Cup. There have been a whole lot of questions requested about whether or not or not the US is creating the correct of gamers for the highest stage of the worldwide stage. However you appear to be somewhat optimistic particularly after working with some high gamers in Europe. Is that truthful to say?
Wicky: Sure I’m. I’m. It is a very huge nation and lots of people. There are a whole lot of gifted gamers. Once I examine that with 10 years in the past, or the league or MLS golf equipment 10 years in the past – how the golf equipment have grown, the amenities, the academies, it’s evening and day from then.
Meaning the individuals concerned have realized, they invested, the grew, the sensation I get from everybody right here is that they nonetheless wish to study. In teaching and in sports activities, a very powerful factor is that in case you suppose you understand all the things and that you do not have to develop anymore, then you definitely’re flawed. I get the impression right here that everybody needs to study. It is already an excellent stage however they nonetheless wish to enhance however I believe that’s thrilling but additionally essential.
The World Cup was a step again however Italy did not qualify, the Netherlands didn’t qualify for the World Cup and that generally occurs. These are enormous soccer international locations. In soccer, the very best staff does not all the time win. You may have the very best statistics, the very best possession, you may win extra 1v1s, have extra pictures, however ultimately you may lose. That’s soccer. That makes the sport unpredictable and it makes it lovely. With the World Cup, I do not suppose it is advisable to query all the things. I believe it is advisable to query some issues. Nevertheless it does not imply all the things is unhealthy.
ASN: You stated earlier that it is a huge nation. But when this staff qualifies and also you wish to go and scout extra gamers as a result of you haven’t had a lot time with this group but, how a lot of a problem is it to scout in a rustic this huge? In a rustic of 330 million folks that can also be huge geographically, how arduous is it to go and discover the 21 finest gamers of this age group? It looks like a novel problem in contrast with many European international locations.
Wicky: Sure. It is fully completely different clearly. The federation has an enormous expertise ID division. The scouting division is nicely organized and so they know a whole lot of the gamers all through this nation. I believe in all the actually huge international locations – in South America or Europe – it is not simple to seek out each single expertise in the entire nation. However we’re very nicely organized with what we have now. Everybody right here needs to enhance each day. I believe in 5 years there will even be enhancements in that side. However it’s a problem however challenges are fascinating and all of us like challenges.
ASN: Whenever you took the job, U.S. Soccer stated they have been impressed together with your data of the participant pool. What was that course of like attending to know the pool?
Wicky: With the U-17 participant pool, I began taking a look at as quickly as I used to be in talks with the federation. However I knew the league. I have been following it since I performed right here. I watched MLS video games and their gamers. It wasn’t one thing fully new to me. Once I had talks, I clearly knew in regards to the nationwide staff and I knew the U-17 pool, the MLS groups, and a number of the younger gamers within the academies I used to be conscious of. I believe it’s one thing a whole lot of soccer coaches do once you comply with completely different leagues and I used to be teaching youth so that you all the time look the place good and fascinating gamers coming from.
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