NEW YORK -- The ink on Bruce Arena's contract was barely dry when he walked into the Belamar hotel in Manhattan Beach, California on the morning of Nov. 22. It was just 30 minutes after Arena signed on for a second stint as U.S. national team coach, but the former LA Galaxy boss literally showed up with a plan: a binder containing names of his player pool, and a list of potential invitees to the Americans year-opening January camp.
It shouldn't be surprising that Arena came prepared. The 65-year-old has been waiting for another opportunity to lead his country for more than a decade.