--A 1-0 victory over Mexico before more than 90,000 fans at the Rose Bowl shortly before the 1994 World Cup.
--A 1-1 tie with Switzerland in the Pontiac Silverdome in the first World Cup game played indoors.
--A 2-1 World Cup victory over Colombia at the Rose Bowl that helped propel the United States into the second round, a feat it had not achieved in 64 years.
Milutinovic's overall record in his four years was 30-35-31.
In the end, though, successes on the field were not enough. After the World Cup, Milutinovic said he would remain as coach if Rothenberg was reelected USSF president. That endorsement helped Rothenberg win the election last fall.
The national team players' reaction to Milutinovic's ouster was one of surprise and regret.
"It's shocking," defender Paul Caligiuri told the Associated Press. "It's definitely a big loss for U.S. soccer. The coach became a great personality, an ambassador for soccer in the United States. He's brought this team a lot of success and credibility. We're basically giving that up for a new start again."
Striker Eric Wynalda said: "I don't really think he changed anybody as an individual; he changed us as a team.
"He brought in a belief to a group of people that we were good and we could be successful. The most important thing he did was that he brought a bunch of guys together and taught them to be a team--I wouldn't hesitate to say a family."
Milutinovic said he would not help the federation find a replacement. One who has been prominently mentioned is former Portuguese national team coach Carlos Queiroz.
Steve Sampson, former Santa Clara coach and assistant on the World Cup team, will serve as interim coach, taking the team to Brussels for its next match, on April 22 against Belgium.
Whether a new full-time coach will be in place in time for U.S. Cup '95 in June or for the Copa America tournament in Uruguay the following month was but one of the many questions left unanswered Friday.
For Milutinovic, meanwhile, the whole world beckons, even the prospect of working in Major League Soccer.
"If tomorrow MLS offered me a job, I would have some interest," he said. "I like living here."
Chances are, there will be far more attractive offers than that coming Milutinovic's way in the coming weeks.
After all, France '98 is only three years away.
