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Former Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio has agreed to take over as manager of a national team and it’s neither the United States nor his native Colombia side.
According to the official Twitter account of the Paraguay Futbol team, they have hired Osorio as the man to lead them to Qatar in 2022.
⚪ ¡Tenemos técnico para el operativo Qatar 2022! El colombiano Juan Carlos Osorio dirigirá a nuestros jugadores en el camino a la clasificación para el próximo Mundial. #Albirroja! #Oñondive #VamosParaguay ⚽https://t.co/FgA5SJTLBA pic.twitter.com/usJYP93mOP
— Selección Paraguaya (@Albirroja) September 3, 2018
Like the USMNT, Paraguay missed out on the 2018 World Cup. Unlike the USMNT, they’ve actually hired a replacement manager. In fact, according to reports, Earnie Stewart and the powers that be have yet to officially hold their first interview for the position.
Juan Carlos Osorio has been named the new manager of the Paraguay national team. Paraguay pulled out all the stops to get him, giving him a lot of control of a program w/some good talent. Osorio never spoke to the #USMNT (Earnie Stewart hasn't interviewed any candidates yet). https://t.co/P0OWvngwVT
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) September 3, 2018
Feels like Galarcep is kind of burying the lede there in noting that U.S. Soccer has yet to interview any candidates. Ives has a few other tidbits as well in his timeline including that numerous other teams who were actually involved in the World Cup this year had made offers to Osorio. With other teams who haven’t had an “interim” coach for the past 10 months moving much quicker, it makes one wonder why U.S. Soccer seems to be dragging their feet, with many coming to the conclusion that they are likely planning to hire a domestic candidate currently employed by an MLS team.
What say you? Did the USMNT dodge a bullet? Or does the lack of movement indeed mean that Gregg Berhalter, Peter Vermes or another domestic candidate are waiting in the wings?