Wednesday, November 14, 2007

For the first time in its history, the U.S. women's national soccer team will be guided by a coach from overseas. And for only the second time, the team will be led by a woman.

Pia Sundhage, a former Swedish star who coached in the U.S. pro league and most recently was an assistant on the Chinese staff, was named yesterday to replace Greg Ryan, whose contract was not renewed after the Americans' lackluster performance at this fall's World Cup in China.

"She brings a fresh perspective and a tremendous amount of experience," said U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati, who was joined on the search committee by USSF Secretary General Dan Flynn and retired superstar Mia Hamm. "She knows the international game and has a great track record of not only winning, but getting the most out of players and teams."

The U.S. team's next major event is the 2008 Olympics in China.

Sundhage, 47, was so popular in Sweden during her playing career that her image was placed on a postage stamp. She scored 71 goals in 146 appearances during a 22-year international career. Her coaching career began as a player-coach with Swedish club Hammarby before overseeing several youth national teams in her native country.

Sundhage was an assistant coach for two years with Philadelphia in the Women's United Soccer Association and then guided Boston to the best regular season record in 2003, the league's final year. She served as a U.S. scout during the 2004 Olympics.

In the U.S. post, Sundhage will have to revitalize a squad that did not lose in regulation time under Ryan heading into the World Cup but labored throughout the tournament and suffered the worst loss in program history, 4-0 to Brazil, in the semifinals. She will also have to oversee the possible return of goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was banished from the team after the semifinal loss for making critical comments about Ryan's decision to replace her with Briana Scurry.

-- Steven Goff