Milutinovic Closer to U.S. Soccer Post

After coaching Mexico and Costa Rica in soccer’s last two World Cups, Yugoslavian Bora Milutinovic said Thursday night he is eager to coach the United States in the next one in 1994.

Milutinovic said from his Mexico City home that he will meet Monday or Tuesday in Los Angeles with Alan Rothenberg, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“I think there will be an offer, but I’m not sure,” he said.

Rothenberg would confirm only that the meeting has been scheduled.

Milutinovic said he will be accompanied by his agent, Nick Petrovic.

“I speak football; Mr. Petrovic speaks money,” Milutinovic said. “But money is not the important thing. The important thing is the challenge.”

One source said the USSF wants to announce Milutinovic as the coach in Los Angeles during next week’s North American Nations Cup, which involves the United States, Mexico and Canada.

A USSF search committee decided upon Milutinovic after interviewing three other candidates. The one concern about Milutinovic, the source said, is that he is not fluent in English.

In its first game since Bob Gansler resigned under pressure as coach on Feb. 23, the United States plays Olimpia of Paraguay Saturday at Tampa, Fla., under interim Coach John Kowalski.

Milutinovic, who has not always been consistent in reporting his birth date but is believed to be in his late 40s, has been in Mexico for much of the past 17 years as a player, coach and administrator.

He coached Mexico to the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. After becoming the Costa Ricans’ coach only 45 days before the 1990 World Cup in Italy, he coached them into the second round.

The United States is the host team for the 1994 World Cup.