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Bruce Arena took over the reins of the United States team from Steve Sampson immediately after their disappointing first-round exit at the 1998 FIFA World Cup™.

The Stars and Stripes went home from those finals without a point but in the eight years since Arena, a former goalkeeper and University of Virginia and US Olympic team coach, has turned their fortunes around, taking them on an uphill climb toward increased respectability.

Combative at times with members of the media, the Brooklyn-born Arena – who earned only one cap in his playing career in a friendly against Israel – has gone on to become the most successful national coach in US history, leading them to the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002 with a strong squad seemingly unfazed by the big occasion or the big names in their way.

“He’s the same old Bruce. He always says what’s on his mind. He doesn't hold back anything,” said US captain Claudio Reyna, who played for Arena at the University of Virginia from 1991-93. “He still has that brash New York attitude. That’s never left him.” As a case in point, Arena found himself in hot water Down Under after claiming Australia would not go far in Germany. “The same old Bruce,” as Reyna would say.

After winning five national collegiate championships at the University of Virginia, Arena took charge at capital club DC United and led them to two Major League Soccer Cups, a US Open Cup, a CONCACAF Champions Cup, and an Interamerican Cup. It was largely down to Arena that DC United became a leading force in the formative years of the new league.

Arena’s next order of business was to guide the US to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. With a win over Mexico in the first round, their qualifying route was smooth and in the end they finished six points behind their neighbours to the south, in second spot in the CONCACAF standings.

Once there, Arena’s men were ready and went on a run of form that shocked the whole world – but not their coach. They opened their account with a win against Portugal before drawing with hosts Korea Republic. In the second round they beat rivals Mexico 2-0 and though they lost to eventual finalists Germany in the last eight, the competition was a real eye-opener for the watching world - and vindication for Arena’s approach and tactics.

The players – and even Arena, grudgingly – returned to the States as conquering heroes. Booked on chat shows, they became household names for a brief moment, having captured the imagination of their traditionally non-football nation.

After the hype had subsided, Arena set about the task of preparing his side for a run at the next finals in Germany. This time the US – who took regional honours by winning the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup on home soil – were not going to be satisfied with second place. Over the course of the 17-month long qualifying process, they only lost just one out of 18 games and finished first in the region, ahead of Mexico for the first time.

Arena’s overall record in charge makes him the most successful coach in American history, statistically speaking. With the total backing of his players and the obvious ability to inspire his squad, this straight-talking 54-year-old will have surely a few tricks up his sleeve come kick-off time in Germany. And with nothing to lose and everything to gain on the world stage, he may yet be around for a while longer.