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7 managers the USMNT should target to replace Arena

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arena stepped down as manager of the U.S. men's national team after failing to qualify for the World Cup - the country's first time since 1986. The search now begins for his replacement, the person who must guide the team through the next five years with an eye on the grand affair in 2022.

Here are a few options U.S. Soccer should consider:

Tab Ramos

The U.S. has a generational gap to address. Fourteen of the 23 players Arena selected were 30 or older, and many will have retired or will be in their mid-30s by the time the next World Cup comes around. The focus must shift toward youth.

Enter Ramos, head coach of the U.S. Under-20s for the last decade. He knows exactly what's coming down the pipeline and has extensive knowledge of what makes young American players tick. He's also gone through multiple World Cup qualifying campaigns at the youth level, making him the perfect candidate.

Peter Vermes

Whether it was wary legs or a warier heart, the indomitable "never-say-die" spirit that defined the U.S. in the last two World Cup cycles had gone missing under Arena, but Sporting KC boss Vermes won't have trouble finding it. His intense style and man-management skills make him a strong candidate.

He has the ability to get the most out of a budget roster and also nurtured the growth of Graham Zusi, Matt Besler and, eventually, Dom Dwyer into U.S. national team options, strong marks for his development skills.

David Wagner

Huddersfield Town is enjoying the trials of the Premier League, and it's due, in part, to the work of German-American boss Wagner. Once an advisor to Jurgen Klopp, Wagner had first-hand experience developing U.S. bright spot Christian Pulisic and has very much come into his own now as a head coach.

The 45-year-old has a bit of experience playing for the U.S. national team, but is a dream option with career upside that will probably draw other suitors.

Jesse Marsch

If Arena's team was missing structure and a clear idea to play, Marsch can have them playing the Red Bull way. His appointment to the helm of the New York Red Bulls came with the caveat of implementing the high-pressure style that defines the Red Bull brand across RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.

As such, Marsch could take those lessons one notch higher to make the U.S. a tireless working force in CONCACAF, and not the lackadaisical bunch that lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago when it mattered most.

Thomas Tuchel

As far as dream hires go, Tuchel would represent the United States' most ambitious - and certainly, most expensive - option to date. The admirable former Borussia Dortmund man will have no shortage of destinations available to him once he decides to return to a managerial role.

Bayern Munich's Jupp Heynckes is an interim appointment, and it's likely that Tuchel is on the Bavarians' shortlist. If the U.S. want to make a bold move and a signal of intent, a big offer here would go a long way.

Oscar Pareja

Another coach with a keen eye for young talent, Pareja built FC Dallas into a juggernaut on a shoestring budget with an unrivaled emphasis on inner-team promotion and talent identification. Particularly enticing is how Pareja would help players like Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Erik Palmer-Brown, and Andrew Carleton.

Dallas struggled in 2017, and Pareja may have been pushed out of the picture as a result, but he would still be an admirable candidate nonetheless.

Tata Martino

Make no mistake, Atlanta United supporters; the expansion side wouldn't have hit half its marks in their milestone debut year if not for the work ethic, tactical acumen and man-management skills of Gerardo "Tata" Martino. His ability to recruit top talent out of South America was another key factor in Atlanta's rise.

While that Rolodex won't help much in building a U.S.-specific side, his tactical knowledge and fast-paced, possession-style football - the kind he utilized at Barcelona and Argentina - make him an experienced and inspirational option.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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