Patrick Vieira has departed RC Strasbourg by mutual consent, the Ligue 1 side announced on Thursday.
Vieira served one season as Strasbourg head coach, leading the club to a 13th-place finish in 2023-24.
The timing of Vieira’s departure has raised some eyebrows, as the 48-year-old Arsenal legend has recently been mentioned as a candidate for the vacant U.S. men’s national team position.
Earlier this week, former USMNT striker Taylor Twellman said that Vieira was interested in job.
“There’s one name that I’ve said from the beginning that has a real interest in this, and that’s Patrick Vieira,” Twellman said on the Rich Eisen Show.
“He won a World Cup as a player. He loves the American player. But he also walks into that room and every single player’s tail is going to be between their legs because he doesn’t hold back on anyone.”
After Vieira left Strasbourg on Thursday, reporter Fabrizio Romano added that the Frenchman was “under consideration” for the USMNT job.
🚨🇺🇸 Patrick Vieira, one of the names under consideration for USMNT head coach job.
Nothing advanced or close at this stage but Vieira’s one of the options being discussed, not the only one.
Patrick, now free after mutually terminating contract at Strasbourg. pic.twitter.com/tCVRsIhL3x
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 18, 2024
TUDN, meanwhile, went one step further and said that U.S. Soccer and Vieira were in talks over the role.
Though Strasbourg framed Vieira’s departure as mutual, L’Equipe reported that the club actually sacked the coach for not being in accordance with its project.
Vieira is seen as a strong candidate for the USMNT position because of his sterling playing career, which included a World Cup win with France and several league titles with Arsenal and Inter, as well as his coaching experience in the U.S. and abroad.
The Frenchman began his coaching career in Manchester City’s academy, and his first senior role was with New York City FC, giving him a window into the American game. Vieira departed NYCFC in 2018 and has gone on to coach Nice and Crystal Palace.
The USMNT position has been vacant since Gregg Berhalter was dismissed last week in the wake of the team’s stunning group-stage exit at the Copa América.
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