With a little more than two months until the World Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann has made a shakeup to his US national team coaching staff, adding Tab Ramos as an assistant and dropping longtime deputy Martin Vasquez, US Soccer announced on Sunday.
Ramos (above) has served as head coach of the Under-20 national team since 2011, and led the US to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Last November, his role within US Soccer was expanded to include the position of youth technical director.
Vasquez, meanwhile, will "transition to other responsibilities within US Soccer," according to a release from the federation. The former Chivas USA head coach had served as an assistant coach under Klinsmann since 2011 and worked with the German legend in the same capacity at Bayern Munich during the 2008-09 season.
"As we move toward the World Cup, we are shifting some responsibilities within the technical staff that we believe will put individuals in areas of strength and provide us with the best opportunity to be successful," said Klinsmann in a statement.
Also Sunday, US Soccer announced that former German international Berti Vogts has been hired as a special advisor to the US national team.
According to the federation, the 1974 World Cup winner's role includes aiding in the development of training plans, helping to prepare scouting reports, and traveling to observe matches of the USA's opponents in the lead-up to this summer's World Cup in Brazil.
Vogts also coached the German national team while Klinsmann played, guiding them to the 1996 European Championship title. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach defender has also coached Bayer Leverkusen and four national teams.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have Berti join us as an advisor," said Klinsmann. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, both as a player and a coach, and he knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
"He was my coach for Germany in the 1990s and we have a great relationship. Through his time as the head coach of Scotland, Nigeria and Azerbaijan, he is obviously very familiar with our opponents in the group stage of the World Cup, and for us this is a huge bonus."
The USMNT faces Mexico on Wednesday in a friendly at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (11 pm ET, ESPN, UniMas). Klinsmann's MLS-heavy roster began gathering in Phoenix on Sunday.
