Klinsmann named as U.S. coach

"We are excited to have Jürgen as the head coach of our men's national team," said Gulati via a press release. "He is a highly accomplished player and coach with the experience and knowledge to advance the program. Jürgen has had success in many different areas of the game and we look forward to the leadership he will provide on and off the field."

Klinsmann's first match in charge of the U.S. will be against Mexico on Aug. 10 in Philadelphia.

"I am proud and honored to be named the head coach of the U.S. men's national team," said Klinsmann via a press release. "I would like to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for the opportunity, and I'm excited about the challenge ahead. I am looking forward to bringing the team together for our upcoming match against Mexico and starting on the road toward qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup."

As a player, Klinsmann was one of the game's premier forwards and enjoyed a 17-year career that included stints at VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich. He earned 108 caps for Germany and scored 47 goals while helping the team win the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and the 1996 European Championship.

With 11 goals in three World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998), Klinsmann is tied for sixth on the all-time scoring list. He retired in 1998 and moved to the United States shortly afterward.

Klinsmann was named manager of the German national team in July 2004. He guided Germany to a 20-8-6 record and a third place finish in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but announced after the tournament he would be stepping down as Germany's coach.

In 2008, Klinsmann replaced Ottmar Hitzfeld at Bayern Munich. Under his guidance, Bayern reached the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League, losing to eventual champion Barcelona, but Klinsmann was relieved of his dutes in April 2009.

Following the game against Mexico, the U.S. will play also a pair of friendlies in September, facing Costa Rica on Sept. 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and Belgium on Sept. 6 in Brussels.