Brief History Of USA Coaches At The Men's World Cup

It may surprise some of the newer fans of the U.S. men's national team that its history with the World Cup actually stretches back to the very first edition of soccer's most prestigious tournament. 

The U.S. was one of 13 teams who participated in the inaugural event in 1930 in Uruguay. A second appearance occurred in 1950, but then a 40-year drought saw the U.S. not return to soccer's biggest stage until 1990.

Leading these World Cup squads were managers who made their mark on American soccer. From a surprise semifinal run to breaking a decades-long drought, to reaching quarterfinals and building golden generations, the men who have stood on the USA sideline have written the story of a program still chasing its ceiling. 

Let's look at the managers who have led the U.S. men's team at the World Cup:

(U.S. Soccer)

USA Manager Tenure: 1928-1930

The first coach to lead the U.S. men's national team to a World Cup was the Scottish-born Millar, who moved to the United States in 1911. He played with some of the earliest created soccer clubs in New York and Philadelphia and even played two matches for the national team in 1928 before retiring as player. But Millar's greatest contribution to the game was taking over as manager of the U.S. for the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Two surprise wins in their group stage against Belgium and Paraguay led to a surprise appearance in the semifinals, where the Americans lost to Argentina. It's still the best finish for the men's team in history. 

Resume Highlights:

(Photo by EMPICS Sport/EMPICS via Getty Images)

USA Manager Tenure: 1950

After the 1930 appearance, the U.S. missed out in the next two editions with the tournament also being on pause during World War II. When the