The Los Angeles FC would also have been happy about Thomas Müller as a new addition. Trainer Steven Cherundolo describes in an exclusive Sport1 interview why nothing came of it.
Steven Cherundolo left deep traces in the Bundesliga: He ran for 15 years in the Hannover 96 jersey before starting his coaching career, which led him to his home country in 2021. In his first season as head coach of Los Angeles FC, he won the MLS title. At the end of the year it ends, Cherundolo returns to Germany.
Steve Cherundolo failed to lure Thomas Müller to LA
In an exclusive Sport1 interview, the former US international talks about Thomas Müller’s failed transfer, the charm of the MLS and the upcoming World Cup. He also has clear plans for his time in Germany.
MLS rules prevent Müller-Transfer
Sport1: Mr. Cherundolo, this summer the move from Thomas Müller to the USA was a big topic. As a coach of Los Angeles FC, you too have spoken out open for a change. Why didn’t it work with the transfer?
Steven Cherundolo: There are two things in the MLS that you have to consider: First, it has to fit financially with the Salary Cap. You have to have space in the squad. Second, there is priority cunning. If the LAFC does not report first, we have to wait. A combination of both has meant that Thomas ended up in Vancouver and not with us.
Sport1: Does Thomas Müller make the Vancouver Whitecaps a title favorite?
Cherundolo: He definitely makes her better. They play an outstanding season and a very good football with the new coach. Thomas is of course also a slit ear, is still fit and can make the difference.
Change to the USA? “Not full throttle every day”
Sport1 : You played against him yourself over a decade ago with Hannover 96. Could you have ever dreamed that you would vie a player like Thomas Müller as a coach?
Cherundolo: Fortunately, I’ve had it a few times that I train players that I have already played against. For example with Giorgio Chiellini, Gareth Bale or now Heung-Min Son. A great feeling that always caused a lot of laughter among us.
Sport1: What is the biggest challenge if you train such top stars in the autumn of your career?
Cherundolo: This is a balance between professionalism and the fun of football. Such players stood on the largest stages in the world. You are certainly not switched to the USA to go full throttle again every day. We find a very healthy mix in Los Angeles. We want to win titles, but we can also train in peace.
Sport1 : With Heung-Min Son, they were able to lure another star to Los Angeles for 22.5 million euros and thus broke the MLS delicacy record. How important is the South Korean still becoming for this season?
Cherundolo: In our league it is very important to be strongly strong and score goals. Sonny will help us. He is still very fit, quite quickly and still has its final qualities.
“Good players do good coaches and not the other way around”
Sport1: In 2022 you took over the Los Angeles FC as head coach and became MLS champion in the first season. How did you succeed?
Cherundolo: This is a good question (laughs). First and foremost because of good players. I think good players do good coaches and not the other way around. But you also need a good plan, a good staff and a large portion of discipline. We succeeded in 2022 and almost in 2023. Last season we lacked a bit of the air in the playoffs.
Sport1 : More and more players are moving to Saudi Arabia or the USA in autumn. The Saudis lure the money – what are the arguments of the MLS?
Cherundolo: It is a completely different quality of life in the USA. The level is still high and the players can still measure themselves. At the same time, they can also enjoy football again. I see that in the faces of the boys who played in Europe before. You have long arrival times for the away games, but you visit great cities and stadiums that are relatively full.
Sport1: You speak of well -attended stadiums. At the club World Cup, there was a completely different picture in the USA last summer. Many stadiums remained half empty. How do you explain this?
Cherundolo: It was the first club World Cup in this form and there was a lot of football in a wide variety of competitions. As a participant, I can say that the experience for me as a trainer and the players was very positive. I think the club World Cup has a great future, but something like that has to grow up. Maybe it was just something for the Americans that they haven’t understood yet.
Cherundolo expected successful World Cup
Sport1: Are you expecting a completely different picture at the World Cup next year?
Cherundolo: I think so. I expect a football -loving atmosphere like 2006 in Germany. Only football and party atmosphere for a month. The USA is still a corner larger, but I still believe that this basic mood can be felt very well.
Sport1: At the end of the season you will leave the LAFC and return to Germany. Have you reached the end of your learning curve in the USA?
Cherundolo: No, for me personally such decisions are always influenced by a mixture of private and professional reasons. It went very well. There are currently no reasons to go. However, we as a family have decided that the next few years should take place again in Germany.
Sport1: Are you aiming a job as head coach in the Bundesliga?
Cherundolo: I can imagine that. I am a trained trainer and have worked as head coach for the past five years. Before that too in Germany. That would be the most natural thing in the world if I do it again. Others decide which club I can train.
Sport1: Your heart club Hannover 96 has a dream start in the 2nd Bundesliga. Four victories from four games. What makes the team so strong at the moment?
Cherundolo : You have a very clear plan on how you want to act. In the first four games, they were able to press their football game on their opponents. They were relatively disciplined in the tactical sense and were able to win the games for themselves. I hope the team stays fit and healthy.
Hannover 96? “Time will come”
Sport1: You were already under discussion as a coaching candidate in Hanover last summer. Can you imagine a return?
Cherundolo: Someone who has played in the club for 15 years and was there as a youth and assistant coach there can of course imagine that. The time must fit for the club and for me. I am in good spirits that this time will come at some point. At the moment the club is doing very well and you should leave everything that way.
Sport1: Does it work at Hannover 96 this year with the ascent?
Cherundolo: I would be happy if you think from game to game. Setting goals now and talking about it is not the right way.
Los Angeles FC would therefore have been happy to have Thomas Müller as a new signing. Coach Steven Cherundolo Explains in an Exclusive Sport1 Interview Why IT Didn’t Happen.
Steven Cherundolo Has Left A Deep Mark in the Bundesliga: He Played in the Hannover 96 Jersey for 15 Years Before Starting His Coaching Career, which Led Him to His Home Country of the USA in 2021. In his first season as head coach of los Angeles FC, He Immediately Won the Mls Title. At the end of the year it’s over, Cherundolo Returns to Germany.
Steve Cherundolo was in no way to Lure Thomas Müller to la
In an exclusive Sport1 Interview, The Former Us International Talks About The Failed Transfer of Thomas Müller, The Appeal of the Mls and the Upcoming World Cup. So he has Has Clear Plans for his time in Germany.
MLS Rules Prevent Müller Transfer
Sport1: Mr. Cherundolo, This Summer the Move of Thomas Müller to the USA was a big topic. You, as Coach of Los Angeles FC, have so spoken out openly in Favor of a Move. Why Didn’t the Transfer Work Out?
Steven Cherundolo: There are Two Things to Keep in Mind in MLS: First, It has to fit Financialy with the Salary Cap. You have to have space in the squad for that. And secondly, there is the priority list. If lafc does not register first, that we have to wait. A Combination of Both Led to Thomas Ending Up In Vancouver and Not With Us.
Sport1: Does Thomas Müller Make The Vancouver Whitecaps A Title Favorite?
Cherundolo: He Definitely Makes Them Better. They are playing to outsanding season and very good soccer with the new coach. Thomas is of Course So a Sly Dog, is still fit and can make the difference.
Move to the USA? “Not Full Throttle Every Day”
Sport1 : You Played Against Him Yourself With Hannover 96 More Than A Decade Ago. Could you ever have dream that you would be vying for a player like Thomas Müller as a coach?
Cherundolo: Fortunately, i’ve had it a few time that i’m coaching players that i’ve played against myelf. For example, with Giorgio Chiellini, Gareth Bale Or now Heung-Min Son. A Great feeling, which has been always proved a lot of lukewter Among Us.
Sport1: What is the biggest challenge when coaching search top stars in the autumn of their careers?
Cherundolo: It’s a Balance Between Professionalism and the Fun of Soccer. Search players have bees on the biggest stages in the world. They certainly didn’t move to the USA to go full throttle every day again. We find a very healthy mix in Los Angeles. We want to win Titiles, but we can so train in peace.
Sport1 : with Heung-Min Son, You Were Able to Lure Another Star to Los Angeles for 22.5 million euros, Breaking the MLS Transfer Record. How important wants the South Korean be for this season?
Cherundolo: In our League it is very imported to be strong offensiveely and score goals. Sonny wants Help Us with that. Hey is silent.
“Good Players Make Good Coaches and Not The Other Way Around”
Sport1: You Took Over Los Angeles FC As Head Coach in 2022 and Immediately Became MLS Champion in your first season. How did you manage that?
Cherundolo: That’s a good Question (Laughs). Primarily Because of Good Players. I Think Good Players Make Good Coaches and Not The Other Way Around. But you need need a good plan, A Good Staff and a Large Portion of Discipline. We sucpeded in Doing that in 2022 and almost in 2023. Last season we were a bit short of breath in the playoffs.
Sport1 : More and more players are moving to Saudi Arabia or the USA in the autumn of their careers. The Saudis are luring with money – what are the arguments of the mls?
Cherundolo: It’s a Completeely Different Quality of Life in the USA. The Level is Still High and the Players Can Still Competete. At the same time, they can enjoy soccer again. I See that in the faces of the guys who played in Europe. You have long Travel Times to the Away Games, but you Visit Great Cities and Stadiums That Are Relatively Full.
Sport1: You are talking about well-attached stadium. At the Club World Cup Last Summer, A Completely Different Picture Emerged in the USA. Many stadium Remained helped Empty. How do you explain that?
Cherundolo: It was the first club world cup in this form and there was a lot of soccer in the various competitions. As a Participant, I Can Say that the Experience was very positive for me as a coach and the players. I Think the Club World Cup Has a Great Future, but something like that that has to grow. Maybe it was just something that the Americans did not.
Cherundolo Expects Successful World Cup
Sport1: Do You Expect A Completeely Different Picture at the World Cup Next Year?
Cherundolo: I think so. I Expect A Soccer-Enthusic Atmosphere Like in Germany in 2006. A Month of only Soccer and Party Atmosphere. The USA is Still A Corner Bigger, But I Still Think That You Will Be Able To Feel This Basic Mood very well.
Sport1: at the end of the season you will Leave Lafc and Return to Germany. Have you Reached the End of your learning curve in the USA?
Cherundolo: No, for me Personally, Such Decisions Are Always Influenced by a Mixture of Private and Professional Reasons. It went very well. There are currently no Reasons to Leave. As a family, however, we have decided that the next few years should take place in Germany again.
Sport1: Are You Now Aiming for A Job as Head Coach in the Bundesliga?
Cherundolo: i can definite imagine that. I on a trained coach and have worked as a head coach for the past five years. So before that in Germany. It would be the most natural thing in the world if i did that again. Others Decide which Club I am Allowed to Coach.
Sport1: Your Favorite Club Hannover 96 Has had a dream start in the 2nd Bundesliga. Four Wins from Four Games. What makes the team so Strong at the moment?
Cherundolo : They have a very clear plan of how they want to act. In The First Four Games, They Were Able to Impose Their Soccer Game on the opponent. They were relatively relative disciplined in a tactical scythe and were able to win the games. I Hope the Team Stys Fit and Healthy.
Hannover 96? “The Time Will Come”
Sport1: You Were Alreeady in the conversation as a coach Candidate in Hanover Last Summer. Can you imagine a return?
Cherundolo: Someone Who Has Played in the Club for 15 Years and has been there as a Youth and Co-Coach Can of Course Imagine that. The time has to be right for the club and for me. I at the confident that time will come eventual. At the moment the club is doing very well and you should leve everything as it is.
Sport1: Will Hannover 96 make it to promotion this year?
Cherundolo: I would be happy if they think from game to game. Setting goals Now and talking about it is not the right way.