Wilmer Cabrera

[DCHeather]

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_ ... e-position

U.S. Under-17 soccer coach Wilmer Cabrera is leaving after 4½ seasons, the latest shake-up since Jurgen Klinsmann was hired to run the national team.

Cabrera coached the Americans to the second round of the 2009 and 2011 FIFA Under-17 World Cups. The U.S. Soccer Federation said in a statement Tuesday that his departure was by mutual agreement and he will stay on through the end of the month.

Klinsmann, a former German national team star and coach, replaced Bob Bradley in July. Akron's Caleb Porter was hired in October as coach of the Under-23 team as it tries to qualify for the London Olympics, and former American national team star Tab Ramos replaced Thomas Rongen as the Under-20 coach.

Sigh, I thought he was one of our best youth coaches we've had. Hopefully he left because he has something better for himself lined up.

[Clevelandmo]

Frankly I never understood how the guy got the U17 gig in the first place with only a few years of coaching at a youth club and community college. There had to be loads of more qualified coaches. Hopefully one will get the gig now.


Heather he used to part of the youth program that is associated with the Cosmos. Maybe he's going there.

[DCHeather]

Here's a good translation of an interview Wilmer did after his negotiations fell though with US Soccer.

From Bigsoccer:
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost ... stcount=19

[Clevelandmo]

I found this interesting:

Wilmer: Actually in the US, the American players use the technical side more than their physical abilities in playing soccer. I've played Mexican teams, clubs and NTs and I can tell you that you guys are good at balancing both sides and better using the physical abilities than American kids. I wish American players and kids would use their physical abilities much more. What happens is that American players and kids are restricted too much and there are so many safety rules and restriction in them being physical in the game. In Colombia and the rest of the world this game is truly physical and it was a major frustration when I came here how american kids are scared to get physical because they will be penalized or have grown up to be restricted.

Counter to the pervading opinion, especially of hispanics, but is in agreement with what my husband sees as a high school coach.

[DCHeather]

Yeah, I found that to be interesting as well. I think it's a valid point. I know in a lot of recreation leagues slide tackling is not allowed and can get you quickly dismissed from a game. I think people put their kids in these type leagues solely because they want them to be active in sports but not get hurt. Slide tackling is just not taught enough at youth level. At least it wasn't when I was a youth player. I hope it's changed, as the US teams do need to use our size more to knock people off the ball...especially at youth international level.

[Clevelandmo]

Grant Wahl seems to think USSF might leave Bradenton, site of the U17 residency program. Maybe that had something to do with them not coming to terms with Cabrera. I dont know if that means they would move the program or eliminate it. I would wonder if it is not a little soon for the latter option. We just still dont have enough academies for a country our size, IMO.

[LaxAttack]

Mo, I think US Soccer is getting away from Bradenton and moving towards development academy clubs and MLS youth academies (a more "European" system).

Brent Latham wrote briefly about this yesterday -> http://usa10kit.com/2012/01/03/cabreras ... bradenton/

[jumpkutz]

Late to this conversation, but WC's premise makes sense to me. How many great athletes cut their teeth on unregulated pickup/sandlot/neighborhood games in any sport? Look at our man Demsey. Started playing with hispanic kids in an east Texas mobile home park. Calvin Murphy said it best..."in my old neighborhood, it was 'no autopsy, no foul.'

[Clevelandmo]

Looks like Cabrera will be joining fellow countryman Oscar Pareja as part of the Rapids coaching staff.
http://www.denverpost.com/rapids/ci_19769428

[Clevelandmo]

Mo, I think US Soccer is getting away from Bradenton and moving towards development academy clubs and MLS youth academies (a more "European" system).

Brent Latham wrote briefly about this yesterday -> http://usa10kit.com/2012/01/03/cabreras ... bradenton/

Lax the goal of the US Developmental academies is for them to be models of Bradenton, only distributed around the nation so kids can stay at home, and so more kids have the opportunity. There are still something like 18 states that dont have a single academy so I hope we will maintain a residency program somewhere for kids that dont have an academy close to home. But maybe the cost is too high, especially since those kids are unlikely to represent best of the best due to the sparsity of competition.

[Clevelandmo]

I’m excited about the opportunity to coach the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team and be with the players full-time in the Residency Program,” Williams said. “It is a great responsibility as the players kick off the cycle toward the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but it is also an excellent platform for introducing them in more detail to the philosophies and style of play that are being integrated throughout the National Team programs.”

Williams had previously been the head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team and the Mid-Atlantic Region technical advisor for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, but will leave both positions to immediately take over the U-17 Residency Program full-time in Bradenton.

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-17-MNT/2012/01/Richie-Williams-Named-US-U17-MNT-Head-Coach.aspx