One of the few American coaches in Europe, the 57-year-old hopes to take Le Havre into Ligue 1.
You were so close to taking Egypt to the 2014 World Cup. Do you still think about what might have been?
Well, the experience in Egypt was still incredible in all ways. The idea that we could win seven out of eight World Cup qualifiers and not get there...the disappointment of getting so close. The terrible loss in Kumasi [a 6-1 defeat away to Ghana]. These are things that stick with you forever.
Do you still speak to the Egyptian players?
The experience with those players during that historic period; the idea that we came together and all tried to find a way to find something special for the country during that time. When you share this, no one can take that away. I still stay in touch with Aboutrika, Hossam Ghaly, Mohamed Salah, El Neny, Hegazi. And my friends. I love Egypt, I love the people and I am proud of what we did there. I’ll forever be disappointed we didn’t make it to Brazil.
Your next job was very different, taking over at Norwegian club Stabaek...
It is a small club. I said it a million times: it is a small club with a big heart. There were a group of people who had an idea to take the club from the third or fourth league and they did it. But the club hit hard days financially, hit rock bottom. When I went to visit, what I loved was that most of the original group was there. They stayed strong.
It is probably as far away from the pressure-cooker atmosphere of revolution and African football that you could possibly get…
Denne historien er fra March 2016-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Denne historien er fra March 2016-utgaven av World Soccer.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
