Speculation has been confirmed and US Soccer has made Gregg Berhalter the 37th senior head coach in U.S. Men’s National Team history a reality.
The position had been vacant for 416 days following the resignation of Bruce Arena on October 13, 201 after the failure of the USA men to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup In Russia. Dave Sarachan has filled that position on an interim basis. He was 3-5-4 in 12 matches as interim national coach.
Berhalter, 45, played collegiate soccer at UNC Chapel Hill, leaving after three years for a professional contract in the Netherlands. He played in the Dutch leagues, in Germany and in England for 18 years before returning to the United States and Major League Soccer in 2009. He retired as a player with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and then served as a Galaxy assistant coach. He has been head coach of the Columbus Crew since 2013. Berhalter amassed a 92-80-67 (W-L-D) record in seven seasons as head coach with Hammarby in Sweden (2011-2013) and Columbus (2013-present).
Berhalter’ resume checks a lot of boxes. He earned 44 international caps (1994-2006) as a member of the USMNT, often playing in the defense with his Tar Heel teammate, Eddie Pope. He played on two World Cup teams. He became the first American coach of a Dutch professional club when he took over as head coach of Hammarby.
Berhalter led the Crew to the MLS playoffs in four of his six seasons with at that club. In 2015 the Crew lost 2-1 to the Portland Timbers in the MLS final.
Berhalter’s contract extends to the end of the 2022 World Cup cycle, and he will be charged with implementing the transition of the U.S. Player Pool to a new generation of players at the senior level.
“Gregg has the background as a person, successful coach and former player,” said USMNT general manager Earnie Stewart said in a statement. “When it comes to the base and added value qualifications, he scored extremely high. His willingness, work ethic and ideas about developing this player pool and influencing these players in and outside of camp and the thought process he has about that — constantly seeking new things — set him apart.
“He is a coach that is learning at all times. Every single day he tries to develop himself so he can be a better leader for the team that he has. That is something that really stood out with Gregg and went a long way in the decision to offer him the job.”
While his resume is broad and varied, he is not experienced coaching at the senior international level. While consistently competitive, his professional coaching experience has not produced a league championship.