Greg Ryan let go from US Womens National Team

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced today that the contract of U.S. Women's National Team head coach Greg Ryan will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2007, ending his nearly three-year tenure as the team’s head coach.  

“At the conclusion of each world championship cycle, every national team's performance is closely analyzed,” said Gulati in making the announcement. “There are many factors considered in this analysis, and it certainly isn't just about one loss or one particular coaching decision. In this case, after looking closely at the last six weeks and the team's performance at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, we have made a decision to change leadership of the U.S. Women’s National Team. I want to thank Greg Ryan and his staff for their work over the last two-plus years. We look forward to the continued development of our National Team as one of the best in the world.”

The decision was made after a review of the team's third-place finish at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. Ryan finishes his career with an official record of 45-1-9, after originally joining the team as head coach in January, 2005. Ryan also served as an assistant coach for the team in 2004.

The search will be led by a three-person committee made up of Gulati, U.S. Soccer Secretary General Dan Flynn and Hall of Fame Women’s National Team forward Mia Hamm. An announcement on the new coach is expected in the next 30 to 45 days.  The U.S. team will return to training in January and will play a full schedule of domestic and international games in preparation for qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Women’s Soccer Tournament in Beijing, China.