.jpg) Berhalter in 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Gregg Matthew Berhalter[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1973-08-01)August 1, 1973 (age 51) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Center-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Chicago Fire (head coach) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | North Carolina Tar Heels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Raleigh Flyers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Zwolle | 37 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Sparta Rotterdam | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Cambuur | 56 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Crystal Palace | 19 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2006 | Energie Cottbus | 111 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | 1860 Munich | 73 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | LA Galaxy | 52 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 358 | (22) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | United States U20 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–2006 | United States | 44 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Hammarby | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2018 | Columbus Crew | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2022 | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Chicago Fire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gregg Matthew Berhalter (/ˈbɜːrˌhɔːltər/,BUR-hawl-tər;[2] born August 1, 1973) is an Americansoccer coach and former player. He is the current head coach and director of football forMajor League Soccer clubChicago Fire, a role he assumed following the end of the2024 season. From 2018–23 and 2023–24, he was the head coach of theUnited States men's national soccer team.[3] He is the first person in United States history to participate in theFIFA World Cup as both a player and head coach. His tenure as coach has been noted for the recruitment of a younger player roster.
He originally served in the role from 2018 to 2022; following the expiration of his contract,U.S. Soccer employed interim head coaches before rehiring him to the post on June 16, 2023. His tenure with United States men's national team ended a week after the team's early elimination in the2024 Copa Américagroup stage, as the team's performance in the tournament they hosted was perceived as a disappointment.[4] Berhalter previously coachedColumbus Crew inMajor League Soccer,Hammarby inSweden and served as an assistant coach forLA Galaxy.
Gregg Matthew Berhalter was born on August 1, 1973, inEnglewood, New Jersey, and grew up inTenafly, New Jersey,[5] and was a high school teammate ofClaudio Reyna atSaint Benedict's Preparatory School inNewark, New Jersey.[6] He playedcollege soccer for theNorth Carolina Tar Heels at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[6] In 2002, he was ranked as one of the top 50 players in the history of theAtlantic Coast Conference.[7] In 1993, he spent the collegiate off season playing for theRaleigh Flyers of theUSISL.[8] Berhalter is the godson of Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame baseball playerCarl Yastrzemski.[9]
Berhalter left UNC after his junior year, signing with Dutch clubZwolle in 1994. He later played forSparta Rotterdam andCambuur in the Netherlands (later they also had U.S.-born executiveAlex Pama there), and withCrystal Palace in England (where he briefly played alongsideJovan Kirovski). During his time at Crystal Palace, he scored once against Bradford City.[10]
In 2002, Berhalter signed withEnergie Cottbus of the GermanBundesliga. He went on to make 111 league appearances with the team, captaining them to a promotion back to the Bundesliga. In 2006, Berhalter signed with1860 Munich of the2. Bundesliga, and was named captain of the team. He stayed there for a further two and a half years, making 73 league appearances forDie Löwen.
After a 15-year career in Europe, Berhalter moved back to the United States in April 2009. He signed a contract withMajor League Soccer, his first club contract in his home country. He was revealed as aLos Angeles Galaxy player on April 3, 2009.[11] In his first season with the Galaxy, their goals against were cut in half—from 61 to 30—with Berhalter being a leader in defense while mentoringOmar Gonzalez to Rookie of the Year honors.
On November 14, 2009, he scored in the 103rd minute of the scoreless Western Conference final, propelling the Galaxy to a 2–0 win over theHouston Dynamo and into the2009 MLS Cup. It was his first goal in 28 appearances with the club.[12]
In his second season, the Galaxy won the MLS Supporters Shield and further reduced their goals against to 26 for the season, a Galaxy record.
On October 12, 2011, Berhalter announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2011 MLS season.[13] In 2011, LA Galaxy won both the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in Berhalter's final season.[14]
Berhalter earned his first cap for theU.S. national team on October 15, 1994, againstSaudi Arabia.[15] He went on to play at the1995 Copa América and the1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.[7]
Berhalter played a significant role for the U.S. at the2002 World Cup, stepping in for the injuredJeff Agoos and starting the last two games against Mexico and Germany, and in doing so became the firstCrystal Palace player to play in a World Cup match.[15][16]
On May 25, 2006, Berhalter was added to the U.S. national team's roster for the2006 World Cup, replacing the injuredCory Gibbs. Berhalter expressed confidence in the ability of the team in the run up to the tournament,[17] but was an unused substitute in all three group games. The U.S. was eliminated after finishing at the bottom of Group E in the first round with one draw and two defeats.
Following a season as Los Angeles Galaxy's assistant coach, Berhalter was named head coach for Swedish clubHammarby on December 12, 2011.[18] Berhalter became the first American-born manager to manage a professional team in Europe.[19] In his first year, Hammarby improved seven positions in the standing, narrowly missing out on promotion. Berhalter was fired on July 24, 2013, for a "lack of attacking play".[20] Hammarby were in fifth place at the time of the sacking.[21]
Berhalter became thesporting director and head coach ofColumbus Crew on November 6, 2013.[22]
Under Berhalter, Columbus Crew qualified for the playoffs four out of five years, in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. They reached theMLS Cup 2015 but lost at home 2–1 to the Portland Timbers.
On December 2, 2018, Berhalter became the head coach of theUnited States national team (USMNT).[23] He earned his first victory as coach in afriendly match against Panama on January 27, 2019.[24] Berhalter won the first four games of his coaching career.[25] He coached the United States to two continental championships by winning the inaugural Nations League title against Mexico in June 2021, and then defeating Mexico again 1–0 on August 1, 2021, at the2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. On November 12, 2021, Berhalter led the United States to a 2–0 victory over rival Mexico in World Cup Qualifying at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team subsequently qualified for and reached the round of 16 in the2022 FIFA World Cup.[26] This made Berhalter the first American in history to participate in theFIFA World Cup as both a head coach and a player.[27]
As coach of the USMNT, Berhalter has built a roster of young players includingChristian Pulisic,Tyler Adams,Yunus Musah,Folarin Balogun,Sergiño Dest,Antonee Robinson andWeston McKennie.[28] Sportswriters such asSports Illustrated's Brian Straus,The Guardian's Nancy Armour andThe Athletic's Paul Tenorio have described this as part of an overarching strategy to develop a pool of young soccer talent in the United States in preparation for the2026 FIFA World Cup.[29][30][31] Berhalter is also credited with developing a stronger team culture in the USMNT.[32][33] He prefers to use apossession-based play style with a 4-3-3 formation, which has gradually adapted into a more aggressive, forward-moving style of play over the course of his tenure.[25][28]
Berhalter's contract expired on December 31, 2022, with assistantAnthony Hudson named interim head coach while a search for a permanent replacement commenced. Hudson remained in charge through May 2023 before leaving to become the head coach ofAl-Markhiya in Qatar; he was replaced by fellow assistantB.J. Callaghan.[34]
On June 16, 2023, U.S. Soccer announced that Berhalter would return as the head coach of the United States through the2026 FIFA World Cup.[35] Sporting directorMatt Crocker cited Berhalter's "vision, as well as the experience and growth mindset on and off the field to move [the] team forward" as the U.S. prepares to host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada.[36]
On July 10, 2024, Berhalter was relieved of his duties as the US men's national team head coach after the early exit in the2024 Copa America group stage. He led the team to a 44–17–13 record and titles in the Nations League and Gold Cup.[37]
On October 8, 2024, Berhalter was named head coach and director of football for MLS clubChicago Fire FC starting from the2025 season.[38][39]
Berhalter lives in theLake View neighborhood ofChicago with his wife Rosalind, with whom he has four children.[40][41] One of his sons,Sebastian, plays for theVancouver Whitecaps.[42]
In March 2023, an investigation by theUnited States Soccer Federation (USSF) found that Claudio Reyna and his wifeDanielle had attempted to retaliate against Berhalter because their sonGiovanni was receiving limited playing time at the 2022 World Cup.[43][44] The Reynas were also frustrated by comments made after the Cup about the poor behavior of an anonymous player, who was later revealed to be Giovanni.[45] Danielle Reyna attempted to damage Berhalter's career by contacting USSF sporting directorEarnie Stewart and USMNT general managerBrian McBride about a fight between Berhalter and his future wife in 1992.[46][47] A USSF probe into the claim found that it was an isolated incident and found no reason not to employ Berhalter as coach.[48]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Hammarby |  | December 12, 2011 | July 24, 2013 | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 53 | 44 | +9 | 039.13 |
| Columbus Crew |  | November 6, 2013 | December 2, 2018 | 193 | 74 | 49 | 70 | 287 | 282 | +5 | 038.34 |
| United States | | December 2, 2018 | December 31, 2022 | 60 | 37 | 12 | 11 | 118 | 40 | +78 | 061.67 |
| United States | | August 1, 2023 | July 10, 2024 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 16 | +10 | 050.00 |
| Chicago Fire | | October 24, 2024 | present | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 042.86 |
| Total | 320 | 139 | 81 | 100 | 498 | 394 | +104 | 043.44 | |||
Los Angeles Galaxy
United States
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