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July 11 – Gregg Berhalter has been fired by the U.S. Soccer Federation “with immediate effect” following the US’s disastrous performance at the Copa America being hosted in the US and which they exited at the group stage.
With just two years before the start of the 2026 World Cup for which the US are automatically qualified for as hosts, the US federation is now scrambling to find a head coach that will harness a misfiring squad that has performed far below expectations since Berhalter’s return to its management.
Berhalter’s results were patchy but enough to keep in the job for perhaps longer than his negative style of play and the way he set his teams up merited. It was too often more akin to old school US college soccer than modern professional football.
He eventually lost the support of the USSF, a generally uncritical US media and even the American Outlaws fan group who wrote an open letter after the Copa America exit demanding he was removed from post.
U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker, who previously worked with Southampton in the Premier League and the English FA and recently recruited Emma Hayes to lead the US women’s national team, has “launched a search” for a new manager.
It is likely to be a very targeted search with only a few names considering the timelines to 2026 and the need to establish continuity quickly. Jurgen Klopp, who is taking time out after having left Liverpool, is a hot favourite for the job but whether he can be persuaded to cut short his break remains to be seen.
Berhalter managed the US for 74 matches, winning 44 and losing only 13 matches. His first stint was from 2018 to 2022 when his contract expired after the 2022 World Cup.
It is a good record and his contract renewal was expected to be automatic after a World Cup where they progressed into the last 16 but failed to really ignite. However, following a spat with one of his more talented players Gio Reyna, son of US legend Claudio Reyna, and…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/07/11/berhalter-fired-us-team-just-two-years-go-2026-showcase/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-07-11 08:46:06
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