Arena resigns as US men’s coach after World Cup bid fail

FILE - In this July 22, 2017, file photo, United States head coach Bruce Arena sits on the bench prior to a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against Costa Rica, in Arlington, Texas. Arena has resigned in the wake of the teams U.S. national team’s crash out of contention for the 2018 World Cup. “We didn’t get the job done, and I accept responsibility,” Arena said in a statement on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017.(AP Photo/LM Otero, File) FILE - In this July 22, 2017, file photo, United States head coach Bruce Arena sits on the bench prior to a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match against Costa Rica, in Arlington, Texas. Arena has resigned in the wake of the teams U.S. national team’s crash out of contention for the 2018 World Cup. “We didn’t get the job done, and I accept responsibility,” Arena said in a statement on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017.(AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

By Associated Press October 13, 2017 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – Bruce Arena resigned as U.S. men’s national team coach on Friday, three days after the Americans failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

The U.S. Soccer Federation did not say who will take over the team for planned exhibition games next month.

USSF President Sunil Gulati, speaking during a telephone news conference, said he did not plan to resign. He said it was not the right time to talk about whether he will seek a fourth four-year term in February’s election.

Gulati said the federation will seek “outside expertise” as it moves forward.

A 66-year-old member of the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame, Arena coached the U.S. to its greatest success in the modern era, from 1998-2006, then was fired by Gulati.