HARTFORD, Connecticut, May 25 -- Bruce Arena is the most successful coach in the history of the United States soccer team, having led them to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals and lifted them to an all-time best fourth place in FIFA's world rankings.

Despite the accomplishments, Arena, 54, and the U.S. team remain far below the radar in a country mad about baseball and American football where apathy reigns when it comes to soccer.

Arena, the longest-serving national team coach at next month's finals in Germany, rather likes the relative anonymity.

"I've been at this (coaching) for a long time and done it before a lot of people and very few people," he said. "That doesn't change anything -- you're driven to succeed."

Arena was named coach of the U.S. team in October 1998, just months after the team finished last at France 98.

After 124 games in charge, he has amassed a record of 69 victories, 28 draws and 27 losses. During World Cup qualifying last year, the U.S. topped the CONCACAF region for the first time since 1934.

His contract with the U.S. federation is up at the end of the year but Arena has made it clear he will not make any career-changing decisions until after the finals where the U.S. face the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana in Group E.

A former goalkeeper, Arena won one cap for the U.S. in 1973 against Israel. He won five national titles as coach of the University of Virginia before joining D.C. United in 1996, the inaugural season of Major League Soccer.

Under Arena, United played in three straight finals, winning twice, before he left to take over as U.S. boss.

Although he is focused on preparing for the finals, Arena has voiced interest in possibly returning to coaching at club level, either in MLS or overseas.

"Some days you feel like you'd rather be in a club setting, other times as national team coach, especially now at World Cup time," he said. "I've looked at other positions, other opportunities; it only makes sense to be prepared for whatever may happen down the road."

Known for producing successful, attack-oriented teams, Arena is one of the few U.S. coaches for whom players demonstrate an unconditional loyalty.

"How well have I done? Well that's for other people to judge," he said. "At the end, I don't care what they think -- I've worked hard and given it a good, honest try."