Former American international Gregg Berhalter, coach until this season of the team of the North American Championship (MLS) of Columbus, was named Sunday coach of the United States. Berhalter succeeds Bruce Arena who resigned in October 2017 after Team USA's resounding failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, a first since 1986.
Since then, the US selection was tentatively led by former Arena Assistant Dave Sarachan. "We are confident we have recruited the best person to advance our team, he is an experienced former international and a highly respected coach , " said Carlos Cordeiro, president of the American Football Federation.
Berhalter, 45, has been selected 44 times in the United States team and has participated in two World Cup finals, in 2002 and 2006. He has spent most of his playing career in clubs in Europe. second-tier in the Netherlands (Sparta Rotterdam), England (Crystal Palace) and Germany (Cottbus, 1860 Munich). He finished his MLS career at Los Angeles Galaxy (2009-2011) with which he won the MLS Championship title in 2011.
During his coaching career, he was assistant coach of LA Galaxy and then led the Swedish club of Hammarby (2011-13), before being named in November 2013 at the head of Columbus that he led in the final of the MLS Championship in 2015.
The long process for appointing the new coach has been criticized by many observers and even players, such as the new boss of "Team USA" Christian Pulisic.
According to the specialized press, the American federation has studied more than thirty candidates to revive its national team, at a turning point with the announced and probable retirements of executives like Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard, while the United States will co-organize with Canada and Mexico the World-2026.
Gregg Berhalter has officially been named US Men's National Team head coach.
It's been more than a year since they last HC resigned after missing the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/XQvw2g1qQQ