“A different world”: Ex-Nati assistant Cavin about his job in the US and the SFV

Cavin commutes between Europe and the US. On Sunday he will fly to Chicago, where the American association’s offices are located. De Vaudois is one of Berhalter’s three assistants, plus a goalkeeper, a permanent coach and a scouting department with several people. The tasks are clearly divided. Each of the three assistants is responsible for a phase of the game: without ball, with ball, transition phase. Cavin provides the offense. “Gregg is very open and has a lot of confidence in his employees.”

Different leadership style, different mentality

The players are also involved in the processes, much more than in Europe. “With us, they are left alone between reunions.” In the US, contact is much more intensive, says Cavin. “People also talk about personal sensitivities, which is hardly the case here.” More than forty potential international players are under contract in Europe, and one of Cavin’s duties is to be in contact with them and monitor them regularly.

In general the mentality is different. “The Americans always give 100 percent.” Cavin believes that this vision might be somewhat lost in Europe. “Many people today want to achieve more with less.” He also noticed other differences. If you have to take the bus for 40 minutes in Switzerland, people turn up their noses. “In the US you fly five hours for a test match, that is no problem.”

The Nati as a role model for Berhalter

Cavin first contacted Berhalter after the 2018 World Cup. “He then approached Vladimir Petkovic.” The US had missed the final in Russia, Berhalter took over. “We met him in Ticino, he was very open and interested.” Not only the successes, but also the way the national team performed and tried to play dominant football, as well as the multicultural composition of the national team, impressed Berhalter.

The contact became more concrete last summer when it became clear that Berhalter would continue until the 2026 World Cup. “But I was not available at that time because I wanted to complete the qualification for the European Championship with the national team.” For the same reason, there was no commitment to Lausanne as a team leader in October. Two months later, after a sporting revival in late autumn, the topic was no longer so relevant. “A lot of things in football are a matter of timing,” Cavin said.

“Muri must deliver results”

Although he would have liked to experience a third European Championship with the national team, he parted ways with the SFV in December, for whom he worked for more than ten years. “It was the best solution for everyone.” He often discussed things with Yakin and sometimes had different opinions, but the discussions were always characterized by respect. “He was very kind and made a lot of compromises.” Maybe too much? “Muri was and is under pressure and must deliver results. So it makes sense that he now has a new person who shares his idea and can support him.”

Cavin has fond memories of his work at the SFV. ‘It was a great time for me. Working for the national team as a Swiss is a privilege.” He was also lucky and met the right people at the right time, “but I also worked a lot for that.” He has many memories, he spontaneously thinks of the 2015 European Championship qualifier against Slovenia, when Switzerland won after a 2-0 defeat thanks to three goals in the last ten minutes, the two World Cup matches against Serbia and of course the historic victory against France at the 2021 European Championships in Bucharest. “This gameplay would have been too cheesy even for a feature film.”

2022 World Cup qualification as the highlight

Cavin also puts the subsequent direct qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the national team eliminated European champions Italy, at least on the same level as reaching the quarter-finals at the European Championship. “I had a slightly different role then,” says Cavin. Yakin took over after Petkovic left for Bordeaux. Cavin, who knew the processes and the players inside and out, was promoted to assistant and was an important reference person for the Nati coach, especially in the first months of the Yakin era.

“It’s hard to experience such emotions and so much adrenaline in any other job,” says Cavin. Now he hopes for similar moments of happiness – on another continent, in another association. The Copa America takes place in the US in the summer, with the Gold Cup taking place a year later. And the highlight will follow in 2026 with the World Cup at home. By then, Cavin should have no more trouble learning American English.