Following a disappointing U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team performance in the 2024 Copa America, head coach Gregg Berhalter was fired.
Berhalter, who had been at the helm since 2018, led the team to a second-place finish in Group B at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, the team’s disastrous early exit from the Copa America, where they failed to advance from the group stage, raised doubts about his command of the team and the progress – or lack thereof – they had made.
The U.S. Soccer Federation released a statement thanking Berhalter for his hard work and dedication but emphasized the need to find a new leader to guide the team into a new era of success.
“I want to thank Gregg for his hard work and dedication to U.S. Soccer and our Men’s National Team,” U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement.
“We are now focused on working with our Sporting Director Matt Crocker and leveraging his experience at the highest levels of the sport to ensure we find the right person to lead the USMNT into a new era of on-field success.”
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Gregg Berhalter Gets The Boot
Coach Gregg Berhalter’s was on borrowed time as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team following their performance at the Copa America.
The Americans opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Bolivia but then suffered a shock defeat to Panama. (USA was playing a man short due to Tim Weah’s ejection in the first half.)
They were eliminated with a 1-0 loss to Uruguay shortly after that.
The tournament began as a potential springboard to the 2026 World Cup but ended with fans chanting “Fire Gregg!”
“The Copa América result is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance,” Berhalter said in a separate statement.
“Our approach and process was always focused on the 2026 World Cup and I remain confident that this group will be one of the great stories in 2026.”
USMNT fans chanting 'Fire Gregg' as they leave the stadium following elimination from Copa America.
— USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 2, 2024
(via @usmnt_historian) pic.twitter.com/h7zMjhzGjc
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The Search Has Already Begun
Reports have already surfaced about a potential replacement for Gregg Berhalter. Jurgen Klopp has been identified as a top target.
The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team has already reached out to Klopp.
Klopp is a German football manager and former player, most recently serving as the manager of Liverpool FC.
He is widely regarded as one of the best football managers in the world, known for his charismatic personality and tactical acumen. Klopp led Liverpool to multiple major titles, including the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League.
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