Chicago (AFP) – Former international Gregg Berhalter was named as the United States’ new head coach on Sunday, ending a year-long search for a full-time boss following the country’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Berhalter, who joins the national team from Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew, replaces caretaker manager Dave Sarachan.
Sarachan had been appointed following the resignation of Bruce Arena, who stepped down after the USA’s 2018 World Cup qualifying debacle.
“We are excited to announce Gregg as the next head coach of the US Men’s National Team,” said US Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro.
“As an experienced former national team player and highly regarded professional coach, we are confident he is the best person to guide our program forward.”
The 45-year-old Berhalter won 44 caps for the United States between 1994 and 2006, and played in two World Cups.
His club career included stints in England, Germany and the Netherlands before he hung up his boots with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011.
He is the first US World Cup veteran to take charge of the national side, and faces a major rebuilding project as the Americans build towards the 2022 finals in Qatar.
“This is a tremendous honor,” Berhalter said. “Having played for the national team I know what it means to represent our country.
“I believe in our players and our program, and together we will work to build something special and develop a team that will make our supporters proud.”
Berhalter will be formally unveiled at a press conference in New York on Tuesday.
As a manager in MLS, Berhalter took Columbus to the playoffs in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, and his team were losing MLS Cup finalists in 2015, when they were beaten by Portland.
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2rgAlal
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