October 9 – Former U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after a disastrous performance by the USMNT in this summer’s Copa America has landed in Chicago.
The 51-year-old has been hired as director of football and head coach of MLS’s Chicago Fire who currently sit bottom of the Eastern Conference and have the second worst record in all of MLS.
Berhalter is expected to oversee all aspects of the Fire’s sporting operations, including the first team, MLS Next Pro team Fire FC II and the academy.
With the Fire boasting one of the worst records in MLS over the last 15 years, Berhalter will be expected to turnaround this once proud franchise and at least guide the team to the play-offs, where they last appeared in 2017.
While he has previous experience in the league having served as head coach of the Columbus Crew from 2013 to 2018, he has not won a domestic trophy.
As the national team boss his results were also mixed despite winning the 2021 Gold Cup and two CONCACAF Nation League titles.
With a nucleus of players described as the ‘Golden Generation’ much was expected at World Cup 2022, however despite qualifying from a Group containing England, a limp exit to Holland in the round of 16 had the critics out in force.
Combined with the spectacular fall-out with previous best friend and teammate, Claudio Reyna, his wife Danielle and their son, USMNT international, Gio, many thought his tenure would come to an end. US Soccer Sporting Director, Matt Crocker, decided to retain his services though after an investigation citing “vision, as well as the experience and growth mindset on and off the field to move [the] team forward.” A year later he was fired.
Berhalter, who boasts a career winning percentage of 43.45% will see this as an opportunity to get back on the horse in a friendly environment as he currently lives in the Windy City. With expectations low, the ceiling is high for him to refresh his damaged image.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1734916509labto1734916509ofdlr1734916509owedi1734916509sni@o1734916509fni1734916509