Harkes Befuddled by Abrupt Removal From U.S. Soccer Team
When Steve Sampson announced the removal two weeks ago of John Harkes from the national team roster, the U.S. coach set off one of the most torrid controversies in American soccer in recent memory. It was not just Sampson’s decision to cut Harkes that unleashed great surprise, but the manner in which Sampson presented the news.
Harkes was a U.S. team starter, a veteran of two World Cups and in his third season as team captain. Yet when Sampson removed Harkes from the squad less than three months before the World Cup in France, he did not soften the blow with the niceties and thank yous generally reserved for a veteran.
Sampson bluntly said Harkes, 31 failed to embrace a position change and was lacking in areas of leadership and discipline. Harkes, who plays for the MLS’s D.C. United, contends those questions are unfair and have damaged his reputation--even as he pushes to be reinstated, calling Sampson on Monday to schedule an air-out meeting next week.
“Anything can change,” said Harkes. “I have to hope things can come around. This was a big shock to me. I was very unhappy with the process, the way the situation panned out. After 11 years of service on the national team. ... I can’t believe it would come abruptly to this.”
Sampson said Tuesday through a spokesman that he was “receptive” to meeting with Harkes, but in a telephone interview last week said “it is very doubtful” Harkes would rejoin the U.S. team. Sampson also said, “An awful lot would have to happen to change my mind.”
Interviews with national team players, members of the United organization and Harkes reveal Harkes as a fun-loving, popular player also known to be opinionated, outspoken and sometimes difficult with coaches and management.
Still, several national team members said they observed no glaring problems between Harkes and Sampson, or Harkes and other players. Thomas Dooley, a 37-year-old national team veteran who replaced Harkes as captain, said he was so astonished that he telephoned Sampson and asked for an explanation -- for himself and the team.
During a brief meeting with the U.S. team before last week’s victory over Austria, Sampson offered the same general outline he had given reporters, players said. Several players said they remain in the dark.
“He and Steve, to my knowledge, never had it out,” said Brian McBride, a national team candidate. “He didn’t disrespect Steve and Steve didn’t disrespect him. It was very professional. That’s why this was a shock.”
U.S. players speculated Harkes and Sampson, who met frequently because of Harkes’ role as captain, had private disagreements.
Harkes denied that.
“We’ve had nothing other than little quarrels here and there -- every day issues at training, practices,” he said.
Sampson seemed annoyed at Harkes’s claim of being blindsided. “There has been an ongoing communication with him, private conversations, one-on-one with him occasionally for the last six months that have addressed the very concerns that I have,” Sampson said.
Harkes’ charisma, his reputation as a top-notch player in England and United winning the leagues’s first two championships greatly enhanced Harkes’ popularity -- and, some say, his ego. He is among the highest-paid MLS players with a salary of about $230,000.
United Coach Bruce Arena said Harkes reported to camp this year in excellent shape and with an excellent attitude. Last year Harkes expressed displeasure about where he was playing -- he preferred central midfield to the left side, according to United General Manager Kevin Payne. But, Payne added, there never was a “nasty conversation.”
After becoming U.S. team coach in 1995, Sampson occasionally contacted Arena and Payne to discuss Harkes, Arena and Payne said.
“(Sampson) had some battles with John over different things, but that’s not uncommon, particularly with a player like John who has a strong personality,” Payne said. “We tried to explain (to Sampson) that, particularly this year with the team, John has been terrific.”
When Sampson named Harkes national team captain, he called Harkes the “captain for life.” For the past three years, Harkes has started for the U.S. team at midfield. On Feb. 21 in a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands, Sampson moved Harkes to left back for the first time in a national team match.
Jeff Agoos, moved from left back to midfield for that match, said he had no idea during or after it that Harkes disputed the move. Harkes--unlike starting national team member Eric Wynalda, who angrily questioned a position change to reporters last fall--never expressed dismay publicly. After the game, Harkes was quoted saying: “If he asks me to play it, I’ll play it. It’s invaluable to be able to play different positions.”
Yet Sampson said last week at least 50 percent of his dissatisfaction resulted from Harkes’ “insistence” at playing in the midfield. The other problem areas, Sampson said, were leadership and discipline. “If it was purely a decision based on (Harkes’) performance,” Sampson said, “he would probably be on the team right now.”
Sampson also stated “there are some things I will never make public unless John chooses to do so.”
Harkes denied he and Sampson had secret battles or that there were problems regarding where Harkes played.
“I wasn’t insistent,” Harkes said. “I don’t know where he got the feeling I had a problem playing different areas.”
Harkes still holds on to the hope of changing Sampson’s mind.
And if he can’t?
“I’ve had sleepless nights,” he said. “When someone challenges your livelihood, what you have done all your life, it’s hard to swallow. But I’ll continue on. I’m a strong man. I will get through it.”
