U.S. interim head coach Steve Sampson has picked University of Portland men and women’s coach Clive Charles as his assistant.
U.S. Soccer announced May 4 that Sampson, who coached the U.S. in a 1-0 loss to Belgium after Bora Milutinovic was terminated, would coach the U.S. through the U.S. Cup June 11-25.
Charles will join Sampson and goalkeeper coach Milutin Soskic for the friendly match against Costa Rica May 28.
“Steve called me a week ago,” Charles said May 9. “Obviously, it’s an honor. I said I’d love to do it.”
Sampson said the federation allowed him to choose his assistant coach. The timing works well for Charles, whose college teams are inactive during the summer.
“I have very high regard for Clive Charles,” Sampson said. “I have worked with him and competed against him and have grown to appreciate his abilities.”
U.S. Soccer said no specific timetable is in place for hiring a full-time national team coach and Charles is unsure of the length of his assistant coaching term.
The London-born Charles’ professional playing career spanned 17 years, included eight seasons at the English League’s top tier, and finished in 1981 after four seasons with the NASL’s Portland Timbers.
He became men’s head coach at the University of Portland in 1986 and took charge of the women’s program in 1989. In early 1994, he became the U.S. U-20 women’s head coach, a part-time position.
Charles coached against Sampson during Sampson’s five seasons (1986-90) at Santa Clara. In 1989 and 1990, Portland and Santa Clara shared the West Coast Conference titles.
by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla