U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati Announces He Won't Run for Re-Election
United States Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati confirmed he won't run for another term when U.S. Soccer holds presidential elections in February.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about it, and talking about it with people in many different positions—many of whom told me I should run," Gulati said in a statement to ESPN.com's Sam Borden. "But in the end, I think the best thing for me personally, and for the federation, is to see someone new in the job."
Gulati won an unopposed vote in 2006 to become U.S. Soccer president. Since then, the U.S. has experienced varying degrees of success on and off the field.
The women's national team won the 2015 Women's World Cup and earned gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. The men's national team claimed three Gold Cup titles and reached the round of 16 at the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.
However, more recent developments will likely be what most associate with Gulati's tenure.
U.S. Soccer got into a pay dispute with the USWNT after some players accused the federation of wage discrimination. On the men's side, Jurgen Klinsmann's four-year extension in 2013 proved to be a big mistake, and the USMNT ultimately failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup—the first time the U.S. will miss the event since 1986.
Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl was among those calling for major reform in U.S. Soccer and argued Gulati shouldn't seek re-election.
While Gulati won't hold the position of president beyond February, it may not result in the kind of change fans hope to see. Wahl reported Saturday that Gulati may support the election of Kathy Carter, who is president of Soccer United Marketing. SUM is the marketing company for the U.S. national team and Major League Soccer.
ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle wrote: "Carter will be seen by some quarters as representing the status quo." According to Carlisle, a source also called Carter's presidential bid "a 'Hail Mary' on the part of Gulati and [MLS commissioner Don Garber] to have a preferred candidate in the field."
