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Tag: Gregg Berhalter

  • Alexi Lalas ready to take up USMNT job ‘for free’ amid coach hunt

    Alexi Lalas ready to take up USMNT job ‘for free’ amid coach hunt

    Alexi Lalas has expressed his willingness to take on the United States men’s national team coaching job “for free” amid the ongoing search for Gregg Berhalter’s successor.

    The U.S. hosted the Copa America in early July, but their group stage exit led to Berhalter’s dismissal. As the hunt for a new coach continues, Lalas, a U.S. soccer icon, stated it would be a “pleasure” to coach the national team.

    When asked if he would accept the USMNT job, the former United States international replied on X: “Absolutely. It would be my honor [sic], pleasure, and duty. Not only that, I would do it for free.”

    The USMNT is searching for a new manager to build momentum for the 2026 World Cup, which they will co-host with Canada and Mexico.

    Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly declined the offer, and now France Under-21 coach Thierry Henry is considered a candidate to replace Berhalter.

    Selecting the right manager is crucial for their future success.

    As the search continues, the United States will play a friendly against Canada on September 7, followed by a match against New Zealand three days later. It is uncertain if a new manager will be appointed by then.

  • Pochettino leading candidate for USMNT job after Gregg Berhalter’s exit

    Pochettino leading candidate for USMNT job after Gregg Berhalter’s exit

    Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly become a leading candidate to manage the USMNT following Gregg Berhalter’s departure.

    Berhalter stepped down after the American team’s disappointing group stage exit at the 2024 Copa America.

    The USA FA initially approached former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for the position, but after Klopp declined, they turned their attention to Pochettino, as reported by Diario Ole.

    Pochettino recently became available after leaving Chelsea in May, where he led the team to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.

    His profile suits the USMNT’s needs: a youthful coach with a distinguished background, fluent in English, and experienced in top-tier football.

    The 52-year-old Argentine has an impressive coaching resume, including leading Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final and managing Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

    The USMNT role could be appealing to Pochettino, offering him the chance to shape a promising group of young American talents, such as Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun, to his style and philosophy.

    Should Pochettino accept the offer from the USA FA, he would have the opportunity to guide the team in the 2026 World Cup on home soil, a compelling factor that could influence his decision to coach Christian Pulisic and his teammates.

  • Berhalter being considered for US renewal

    Berhalter being considered for US renewal

    Following an inquiry into a 1992 domestic incident involving his wife, Gregg Berhalter is still being considered for a new contract as the head coach of the United States.

    Rosalind Berhalter, who was then his girlfriend, was shoved and kicked by Berhalter in a nightclub when they were both freshman at the University of North Carolina. Berhalter confirmed in January that he was the focus of an investigation into the incident.

    It was later discovered that Danielle, Giovanni Reyna’s mother, had complained to U.S. Soccer about the event because she had been upset by Berhalter’s handling of her son at the 2014 World Cup.

    Reyna saw little playing time throughout the competition, and Berhalter indicated the Borussia Dortmund player nearly left his team because of bad behavior in Qatar.

    Berhalter’s contract with U.S. Soccer expired at the end of December, though he said he was hopeful of returning to the post as a probe into the domestic altercation was announced.

    While that investigation has concluded Berhalter did kick his wife, the legal firm that carried it out has advised U.S. Soccer there is no legal impediment to re-employing him.

    A statement from U.S. Soccer read: “Upon learning of a serious allegation of past misconduct against then-U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, U.S. Soccer immediately engaged a team at Alston & Bird LLP to conduct an independent investigation into the matter. 

    “U.S. Soccer takes seriously both allegations of violence and allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards our officials and staff.

    “U.S. Soccer’s process for determining who will serve as sporting director is ongoing, and interviews are underway. The sporting director will lead the process of determining who will serve as head coach of the men’s national team. 

    “Given the investigators’ conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate to serve as head coach.

    “The report also identifies a need to revisit U.S. Soccer’s policies concerning appropriate parental conduct. We will be updating those policies as we continue to work to ensure safe environments for all participants in our game.”

  • Berhalter apologises for Iran flag post by US

    United States manager Gregg Berhalter has apologised after a modified version of Iran’s flag was used in social media posts by the US national team.

    Before their World Cup meeting on Tuesday, the US removed the the Islamic Republic emblem from the flag in graphics posted online, which were later deleted.

    Iran’s football federation complained to Fifa over the issue.

    “Sometimes things are out of our control,” Berhalter said on Monday.

    “We’re not focused on those outside things and all we can do is apologise on behalf of the players and the staff, but it’s not something that we were a part of.”

    The US and Iran cut diplomatic relations in 1980 and the meeting of the two nations in the World Cup comes amidst a backdrop of widespread anti-government protests in Iran.

    Iran has accused the US and other foreign adversaries of instigating the protests, with the US government imposing sanctions on Iranian officials over the crackdown.

    The US said they decided not to use Iran’s official flag in the social media posts to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights”, amid mass anti-government protests in the country.

    The protests in Iran, met with a fierce crackdown, have been sparked by the death in custody in September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict rules around head coverings.

    A US Soccer spokesman later said the posts had been removed and replaced with ones using the correct Iran flag, but added: “We still support the women of Iran.”

    Berhalter said: “We had no idea what US Soccer put out. The staff, the players, we had no idea. For us our focus is on this match and I don’t want to sound aloof, or we’re not caring by saying that.

    “Of course are thoughts are with the Iranian people, the whole country, and everyone. But our thoughts are only on this match.”

    Both the United States and Iran go into Tuesday’s match knowing they will definitely go through to the World Cup last 16 with a win, but will be eliminated if they lose. A draw would knock out the US, and leave Iran relying on Wales not beating England.

    The two teams last met at the World Cup in 1998, with Iran winning 2-1, but both teams going out in the group.

    Source: BBC

  • Berhalter: United States can beat anyone

    United States head coach Gregg Berhalter is confident his side can defeat anyone on their day, as they prepare to commence their World Cup campaign against Wales.

    Having failed to qualify for the tournament in Russia four years ago, the US side head to Qatar with the intent to make an impact ahead of co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico in 2026.

    Eight years ago in Brazil, Berhalter’s predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann made it clear the USMNT could not win the tournament which, although a realistic assessment, was seen to be a defeatist mentality in the eyes of many.

    Berhalter is not looking to rock the boat fully by declaring his side can go all the way, though he does fancy their chances against any opposition.

    “What I do believe is that on our best day we can beat anyone in the world. Anyone,” he told ESPN.

    “Look, it is a great honour to play in the World Cup, but we don’t want to just be participants. We want to perform.

    “We think the first step is getting out of the group. And the second step is, in the knockout games, playing our best possible game and seeing how far we can go.”

    Midfielder Weston McKennie is keen to take it one match at a time, starting with Monday’s opener against Wales.

    “As a team, as a group, we always want to just focus game by game. So of course with Wales being the first one, there’s no way that we’re going to look past them or anything because we know they’re a strong team.

    “We know that it’s going to be a hard game. But we definitely want to win the first game, to come out with three points.

    “[It’s been] just three, four years of just working up to this moment. I think all the guys are ready to go, and the staff are ready to go and put a game plan together. So hopeful we execute that.”

    The United States also face England and Iran in Group B, as they look to continue their consistent record at the World Cup – only failing to advance from the group stages in four of their nine involvements.
    Source: Livescore