Jurgen Klinsmann has been sacked by US Soccer after five years in charge of the USMNT.
Klinsmann departs just days after defeats to Mexico and Costa Rica left United States bottom of their World Cup qualifying group.
There are already reports that LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena is poised to replace Klinsmann for a second spell in charge.
Klinsmann led United States to the last-16 of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where even an inspired performance from Tim Howard couldn’t prevent an extra-time defeat to Belgium.
Things have gone downhill since then though, with the side losing to Jamaica and Panama on their way to a fourth place finish at the 2015 Gold Cup.
Further defeats to Mexico and Guatemala further piled the pressure on the 52-year-old, though a run to the semi-finals of Copa America Centario earlier this summer appeared to give Klinsmann a stay of execution.
However, a wretched start to their CONCACAF World Cup qualifying has prompted US Soccer to make a change.
In a statement, US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said:
“We want to thank Jurgen for his hard work and commitment during these last five years. He took pride in having the responsibility of steering the program, and there were considerable achievements along the way.
While we remain confident that we have quality players to help us advance to Russia 2018, the form and growth of the team up to this point left us convinced that we need to go in a different direction. With the next qualifying match in late March, we have several months to refocus the group and determine the best way forward to ensure a successful journey to qualify for our eighth-consecutive World Cup.
There has never been a greater time for soccer in this country, and with the support and efforts of the millions of fans, sponsors, media and friends, we look forward to continued progress in the game we all love.”