Rumors run rampant, but here are top U.S. candidates

	Jürgen Klinsmann has been the most common name mentioned for the U.S gig ever since Bruce Arena was dismissed in July. Simon Bruty/SI
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It was, all things considered, the most polite "no comment" I've ever encountered.

In a 193-word e-mail under the subject header "Greetings from the West Coast," Jürgen Klinsmann -- the best-equipped candidate for the U.S. men's coaching job -- communicated several things to me recently.

He said he hoped I'd had a wonderful World Cup and "could enjoy a new German way of partying and participating with all the guests from around the world." He took pride that his country "was able to show everybody a positive, international and open-minded Germany," a feat that was "even more important than the results on the field."

He said that he'd be using September and October to analyze his two years as the German coach, spend time with his family at their home in California, and take some educational courses as well.

But there was no money shot. Klinsmann mentioned nothing about his interest (or lack thereof) in the U.S. job, and he asked if we could wait until November or December to talk on the record.

Coincidence or not, November just happens to be when the new U.S. coach will likely be unveiled, according to U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. "I would think a November decision and announcement is on track," says Gulati, who ended the eight-year tenure of Bruce Arena in July and remains militant about keeping the identities of his interviewees secret.

But based on interviews with more than two dozen sources over the past week, I have been able to piece together some information regarding the U.S. search, as well as some well-informed speculation about the most important story in U.S. soccer for the remainder of 2006.

Here are some of the things I've learned:

• Gulati has made one interview trip outside the U.S.: a six-day visit to Europe earlier this month in which he attended the women's Under-21 world championship in Moscow and (along with USSF secretary general Dan Flynn) conducted multiple interviews with candidates in Europe. Gulati has not visited South America, but he is planning to in the next two weeks.

• Former Real Madrid coach and current Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz is most definitely in play. Keep in mind, Queiroz -- not Arena -- was the guy Gulati himself wanted in 1998 when Gulati was part of U.S. Soccer's last coaching search. (Then U.S. president Bob Contiguglia ended up choosing Arena instead.)

• Don't overlook Lyon coach Gérard Houllier. The former Liverpool boss was one of the big-name coaches -- along with Ruud Gullit, Johan Cruyff and Andy Roxburgh -- who met with Gulati and former U.S. prez Alan Rothenberg in '98 after Steve Sampson resigned.

• Gulati did speak with former England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson about the job, as Eriksson's assistant recently confirmed, but neither Eriksson nor ex-Argentina coach José Pekerman (another reported interviewee) are considered strong candidates for the job (for reasons discussed below).

• Gulati, according to sources, has had preliminary discussions with several MLS coaches as well, including Bob Bradley, Frank Yallop, Peter Nowak, Sigi Schmid, Dave Sarachan and Steve Nicol.