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Update | Juergen Klinsmann sacked as US men’s soccer coach after poor run of form

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US soccer coach Jürgen Klinsmann speaking during a press conference for the Copa America Centenario football tournament in Seattle, Washington. Klinsmann was fired November 21, 2016 as coach of the United States men's national football team after losing two opening 2018 World Cup qualifying matches. Photo: AFP

Jurgen Klinsmann is out as coach of the US soccer team.

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US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati announced Monday that Klinsmann has been “relieved of his duties” as coach and technical director for US Soccer.

Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley in July 2011 and led the team to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup title and the second round of the 2014 World Cup, where the Americans lost to Belgium in extra time.

But the US was knocked out in last year’s Gold Cup semifinals, lost to Mexico in a playoff for a Confederations Cup berth and started 0-2 this month in the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena is the favourite to succeed Klinsmann, and his hiring could be announced as early as Tuesday. Arena coached the national team from 1998 to 2006.

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Qualifying resumes when the US hosts Honduras on March 24 and plays four days later at Panama.

“While we remain confident that we have quality players to help us advance to Russia 2018, the form and growth of the team up to this point left us convinced that we need to go in a different direction,” US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said in a statement.

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