Former US coach Gregg Berhalter
hired as coach of the Chicago Fire
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[October 09, 2024]
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Fire have hired former U.S.
national team coach Gregg Berhalter to be the club’s new head coach
and director of football.
Berhalter was dismissed as U.S. coach in July, shortly after the
team was eliminated in the group stage of the Copa America. It was
his second stint with the national team.
He replaces current Fire coach Frank Klopas, who will step down
after the team's final regular-season game on Oct. 19 to assume a
new role as the team's vice president of football.
Berhalter becomes the 10th head coach in the Fire's history. He will
oversee Chicago's sporting operations, including the senior team,
Fire FC II, and the Chicago Fire Academy.
“Chicago is an incredible city, built on communities of hard-working
and passionate people who truly love soccer. I look forward to
working alongside our staff and players to transform the Fire into a
world-class organization that all our fans and the city can be proud
of and will support,” he said in a statement.
Berhalter, 51, was the first American to coach the national team
after playing for the team at a World Cup. He was originally hired
to coach the U.S. in December 2018 after stints with Sweden’s
Hammarby (2011-13) and the Columbus Crew (2013-18).
“I’m confident that under his guidance, we will build on the
foundation that has been laid over the past five years and be an
organization that Chicago will be proud of and reflects the values
of our city. I expect that Gregg will create a competitive culture
and return our club to its winning ways,” Fire owner Joe Mansueto
said in a statement.
Berhalter led the United States to a 44-17-13 record during his
tenure, taking the team to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in
Qatar. His contract expired following the World Cup but he was
rehired in June 2023.
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United States head coach Gregg Berhalter smiles from the bench
before a CONCACAF Nations League final soccer match against Mexico,
Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony
Gutierrez )
Earlier that year, U.S. Soccer investigated a
decades-old domestic violence allegation that was brought to the
USSF’s attention by the Reyna family, upset that Berhalter limited
Gio Reyna’s playing time at the World Cup. A law firm retained by
the USSF said there was no legal obstacle to bringing Berhalter
back.
With the Crew from 2013-18, Berhalter led the club to the playoffs
in four of his five seasons, including an appearance in the 2015 MLS
Cup final.
As a player, Berhalter appeared in a pair of World Cups for the
United States. When he made his international debut against Saudi
Arabia on Oct. 15, 1994, Klopas scored on the young center back.
Berhalter, a New Jersey native who lives in the Chicago area, played
professionally for 18 season with stops in Europe and a stint with
the LA Galaxy.
The Fire (7-9-17) have already been eliminated from postseason play
with one game remaining in the regular season. Chicago has not been
to the playoffs since 2017.
It is the seventh coaching change so far this season in MLS. Austin
FC's Josh Wolff was fired on Sunday, joining Nashville’s Gary Smith
(May 16), Atlanta’s Gonzalo Pineda (June 3), Dallas’ Nico Estévez
(June 9), San Jose’s Luchi Gonzalez (June 24) and St. Louis’ Bradley
Carnell (July 1).
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