'There's a lot better candidates than myself' – Vieira dismisses links to USA job

Patrick Vieira has been in charge of New York City since the beginning of 2016. Lev Radin Lev Radin

FORMER ARSENAL AND France captain Patrick Vieira has insisted he is not the right person to replace Bruce Arena as the United States head coach.

The USA are looking for a new head coach after Arena resigned following the country’s failure to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

A shock 2-1 loss at lowly Trinidad and Tobago, coupled with wins for rivals Panama and Honduras, ended USA’s quest for an eighth consecutive World Cup berth.

New York City boss Vieira has emerged as a possible candidate to replace Arena but the 41-year-old – who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France – dismissed those links.

Bruce Arena departed as manager this week following the USA's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Rebecca Blackwell Rebecca Blackwell

“It’s always flattering, but I’m not ready,” Vieira said.

“I think when you go to the national team, it’s important to know the league, to know the players, to understand the system and how it works and you need experience. There’s a lot better candidates than myself.

“I really don’t know what people are talking or what people are thinking. But something I can tell you is that I’m not the right person at all.”

Vieira, whose New York are in the MLS play-offs, added: “I don’t think the US should throw everything [out] and start from nothing. They’ve been working for the last few years.

“It’s just about taking the good and the bad and just try to reflect about what went wrong. I don’t think they should throw everything away because that’s not their answer.”

Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:

iTunes

Android

After humiliating World Cup failure, Bruce Arena is out as USA boss but who will replace him?

‘They failed the sport and they failed their country’: US legend Lalas rues World Cup failure