The departure of Bora Milutinovic is leading to the arrival of Kasey Keller, the nation’s busiest player.
Of all the U.S. products who play abroad, none plays as many games as Kasey Keller. Nor has any American abroad been so successful at holding on to a starting position, fending off injury and consistently drawing praise.
Yet Keller was left off the U.S. national team since an appearance against Scotland in Denver in May 1992. Since that game — the U.S. lost 1-0 — Keller played in 133 league games at England’s second tier — the First Division. (The top tier is called the Premier League.)
U.S. interim head coach Steve Sampson has called Keller in for the May 28 friendly against Costa Rica.
In the 1994-95 season, which ended May 6, Keller missed only two of Millwall’s league games — one through injury and another through suspension. In addition to his 44 league games, he played in five FA Cup games as Millwall reached the fifth round. He played in five League Cup games as Millwall reached the quarterfinals.
“Thank God the season’s over,” Keller said. “It was extremely long. My body is in a lot of little pieces. I’m suffering from complete body soreness. But I’ve got two weeks to rest before the national team camp and I’m looking forward to it.”
A year ago, Keller helped Millwall to a third-place finish and the promotion playoffs, where it lost to John Harkes’ Derby in the semifinals. Milutinovic ignored Keller’s experience while a survey of soccer media by the TV show “Soccer ’94” picked Keller as the U.S. starter.
Neither Tony Meola, the World Cup starter, nor Brad Friedel, were playing competitive club ball. Both honed their skills in the full-time U.S. camp and in national team games — most of which were exhibitions. Third-stringer Juergen Sommer had one season of English First Division ball under his belt.
Why was Keller left off the U.S. team?
“I think the relationships between team members and team chemistry before a major tournament is extremely important,” Sampson said. “I think Bora felt that Tony and Kasey did not have a good relationship, based on comments Kasey made in the press.
“I think Kasey now understands that any criticisms should be made behind closed doors and not in an open forum.
“Bora was put in the difficult position of having to decide between his captain [Meola] or Kasey and Bora made the only choice he was afforded.”
Sampson added that Keller has learned from the experience.
“He has become a good soldier,” Sampson said, “in the last couple of years. He’s played extremely well and that’s why he’s been invited back. It’s time to look forward.”
As for Meola, currently with the USISL’s Long Island Rough Riders, Sampson said, “He remains in the pool from which we select players. The most important thing for a player is to play at a high level and when Tony plays at a high level and plays well, he will be given a look.”
Keller left London on May 9 and will spend a week at the University of Portland, where he will consult with professors to plan out the completion of his degree in sociology.
Millwall finished 12th this season after a slow start. Keller blamed the low finish — its worst since he joined the club — on the demands of cup games.
“We had a saturated schedule,” he said. “We had to play Chelsea and Arsenal twice. When we lost in the FA Cup on a last-second penalty kick to Queen’s Park Rangers, you could see all the energy just drain out of everyone.”
But this year, Keller has a national team stint to look forward to.
“When I heard Bora was gone,” Keller said, “I was surprised. I did think, well maybe I’ll have a chance, but I stopped guessing and assuming things a long time ago.
“Now I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”
by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla