US Under-20s welcome Thomas Rongen back

Earlier this week, US Soccer named Thomas Rongen (pictured) the new, or is it 'classic', head coach for the US Under-20 men. Rongen held this position from 2002 till 2004. During his first tenure, he took guided the team to a fifth place finish at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Rongen's most recent job saw him guide Chivas USA to sixth place in the Western Conference (they remained in sixth place even after he left the club in the middle of the season). Rongen also coached the Tampa Bay Mutiny, New England Revolution and DC United. He was in charge of United when they won the MLS Cup in 1999.

The U-20 team will soon start their qualifying matches for the 2007 U-20 World Cup.