October 24, 2012
SHORT-LISTED
Gulati: U.S. Soccer has 7 finalists to replace Sundhage as women's national coach

Sunil Gulati: "We were actually very impressed overall with the level of responses we got both in the interviews and interest to start with." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- U.S. Soccer has narrowed its search for a new women's national team coach to a short list of seven candidates and it hopes to name one by Nov. 1, president Sunil Gulati said on Tuesday night.

The federation looked at between 25-30 candidates to replace Pia Sundhage, who resigned after directing the American women for nearly five years.

“A number of them did very well," Gulati said at the U.S.'s 2-2 draw with Germany. "We were actually very impressed overall with the level of responses we got both in the interviews and interest to start with. Some of those coaches are American based, some are international based so overall I’ve been very pleased with the process in terms of the quality candidates we’ve had in front of us.”

Gulati reiterated he wants to name a new coach by end of the month.

“That’s always been our target, the end of October, but we don’t have any official games in the next month," he said. "We want to make sure we get it right. Jill [Ellis] is available to us going beyond this month if we need to, but my guess is we’re going to be ready by Nov. 1.”

Gulati indicated that talks about a new women's professional league were going forward.

“We’ve been working very hard on that with a number of investors and our friends at the Canadian Soccer Association and I think over the next 10 days, we’ll have some interesting things to say there as well," he said. "It’s very important that we have a place to play, not only for these players, but for the next 20 and 40 and 60 and I think we’ll accomplish that.”