Jurgen Klinsmann fired as coach of United States soccer team

Former German striker and coach Jurgen Klinsmann was fired on Monday as coach of the United States soccer team after losing two 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.

The 52-year-old, who won the 1990 World Cup as a player with Germany,took charge of the US national team since 2011.

US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati announced the "difficult decision" without naming a replacement. The United States does not face another World Cup qualifier until March.

"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," Gulati said.

"With the next qualifying match in late March, we have several months to refocus the group and determine the best way forward to ensure a successful journey to qualify for our eighth consecutive World Cup."

Klinsmann went 55-27 with 16 drawn in a coaching tenure that began on July 29, 2011, when Gulati named him to replace sacked Bob Bradley on a team where Bradley's son Michael was a star midfielder.

"We want to thank Jurgen for his hard work and commitmentduring these last five years," Gulati said. "He took pride inhaving the responsibility of steering the program and therewere considerable achievements along the way."

Klinsmann guided the Americans on a team record 12-matchwin streak in 2013 and his 16 triumphs and .761 win percentagethat year set US calendar-year records.

But the Americans were a disappointing fourth in the 2015 Gold Cup and also lost a playoff to Mexico for a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

Earlier this month, the US stumbled badly in opening thefinal round of North American (CONCACAF) qualifying for the2018 World Cup in Russia, falling 2-1 at home to arch-riva lMexico and 4-0 at Costa Rica.

In a New York Times story published Monday, Klinsmann dismissed much of the criticism as "a lot of talk from people who don't understand soccer or the team" while saying critics were "ignoring the facts" and "being disrespectful."

Klinsmann has tinkered with lineups and formations but dismissed calls his moves hurt the squad, saying "we are coaching a team through a transitional phase."