U.S. Soccer: Arena is fifth in balloting for Americas' best coach

U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena finished fifth in balloting for the 2002 Best Coach of the Americas.

Arena received seven votes to finish behind winner Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brazil national team), Argentine Nery Pumpido (Olimpia of Paraguay), Argentine Americo Gallego (Independiente of Argentina) and Brazilian Emerson Leao (Santos of Brazil).

The award is organized by the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais. Voting is conducted by journalists from the Americas, including Soccer America managing editor Paul Kennedy.

Coach of the Americas voting:

Luiz Felipe Scolari (Brasil) 64

Nery Pumpido (Argentina) 52

Americo Gallego (Argentina) 23

Emerson Leao (Brazil) 23

Bruce Arena (United States) 7

Carlos Alberto Parreira (Brasil) 6

Hernan Dario Gomez (Colombia) 6

Manuel Pellegrini (Chile) 6

Geninho (Brazil) 4

Alexis Garcia (Colombia) 4

Carlos Bianchi (Argentina) 1

Ruben D. Insua (Argentina) 1

Hugo Sanchez (Mexico) 1

Juan R. Carrasco (Uruguay) 1