Clive Charles took an American team to Australia that nobody, except perhaps itself, thought was capable of getting out of the first round, and he guided it to a fourth-place finish at the Olympics.

SOCCER AMERICA: Clive, when you look back on this tournament in your old age, of what will you be most proud?

CLIVE CHARLES: IÆve enjoyed every day with these players, every single day. And theyÆve enjoyed every day being together. And although we were the underdog every time we stepped on the field, the team we were playing against didnÆt feel that. I just enjoyed the fact we could come here and compete and play well and enjoy it.

Every day has been great for me. IÆve enjoyed every minute.

SA: How does U.S. Soccer sustain this?

CC: Put yourself in, letÆs say, the Czech RepublicÆs position. TheyÆre going, æWhere did the States come from ù we just tied them and couldÆve lost? How did that happen?Æ The guy [Coach Karel Bruckner] said after the game he thought we were the best team. When did this start to happen?

Well, it started to happen a few years ago, and itÆs gradually happening more and more. … I think what itÆs going to take is for our league to continue to grow, for our Federation to continue to support the youth teams the way they have been, and then we have to be patient.

SA: Any interest in coming back for Athens in 2004?

CC: No. IÆm stepping down and just concentrating on the University of Portland and just enjoying my life.

ItÆs been great, IÆve had a great time. I was with the U-20 women, and that was great. I was with the World Cup team, and that was great. I was with the Olympic team, and that was great. ItÆs time for somebody else now. Let somebody else come in and have a go. IÆve had my time, and itÆs been great, itÆs been a great experience for me. IÆve been proud to do it. Hopefully, IÆve contributed in some manner, and itÆs time to move on.

These jobs are not for life.

SA: How good is this group and the groups coming up behind them?

CC: The talent coming up is scary. Scary good. Our young kids coming up now, the 15- and 16-year-old kids being put together now by the Federation, go out and beat college teams. ThatÆs unheard of.

Look at the American player when I played and at the American player now. Two-thirds of the foreign players who played in the NASL when I played wouldnÆt get a game now. With the talent we have now, they wouldnÆt get a game. These kids can play anywhere in the world. They really can.


by Soccer America senior editor Scott French