Juergen Klinsmann provided some details of why negotiations with the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2006 to become U.S. national team coach broke down. He said he wasn't guaranteed top players the following summer for two preparation tournaments ahead of World Cup qualifying.

"There were different opinions, you know, what players could get the permissions in MLS, what role it plays," Klinsmann said of discussions with USSF president Sunil Gulati on player availability for the 2007 Copa America and Concacaf Gold Cup. "And I thought here, it's not going the right directions in that specific moment. ... So I said, 'You know, it's OK, move on.'"

The USSF hired Bob Bradley instead and Klinsmann went on to have an unsuccessful stint as coach of Bayern Munich, after which he moved back to California. He wouldn't say whether he would be interested in coaching the U.S. one day.

"I don't know what happens, you know, over the next couple weeks, you know, or even in a year from now,'' he said. "But I think it's not correct if you discuss something that involves somebody that is actually in charge. And I hope he [Bradley] will stay in charge for a long, long time." Klinsmann called Bradley "a great choice" who is "a very knowledgeable and hardworking coach, you know, and I have the highest respect for him.