Gregg Berhalter Set to Return as Head Coach of US Men’s National Team
After a high-profile fallout with USA star Reyna, Gregg Berhalter is set to return as head coach of the US men’s national team. According to The Athletic, Berhalter is in negotiations to go back to the role of national team manager, with a return said to be “imminent.” His appointment is expected to come early next week, however Berhalter is not expected to coach the USA in the Nations League final against Canada on Sunday. It’s also unclear if he’ll take charge for the CONCACAF Gold Cup that starts later this month.
Berhalter’s Success on the Pitch
On the pitch, there’s no doubting the 49-year-old’s success. During his first spell in charge, Berhalter won the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup trophies and qualified for the 2022 World Cup with the youngest team in the world. He then guided the USA out of their World Cup group after picking up five points against Wales, Iran, and England. Berhalter also currently has the highest win percentage of any USMNT coach with a 37-11-12 record.
The Fallout with Reyna
Berhalter only left his role as US team manager after the World Cup due to a high-profile fallout with Gio Reyna and his family. Reyna was nearly sent home from the World Cup due to his behavior after being told he wouldn’t start the clash against Wales, with his effort in subsequent training sessions almost leading to his dismissal from the team.
While Berhalter kept Reyna with the group and didn’t confirm the player’s identity, he strongly suggested that the Borussia Dortmund winger was the man in question during an off-the-record Q&A after the tournament, with reports from The Athletic confirming that it was in fact Reyna who the fallout had happened with.
This then led to Reyna’s parents, former U.S. national players Claudio and Danielle Reyna, reporting Berhalter to former U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart for an incident that happened 30 years prior when Berhalter kicked Rosalind during an argument when the two were freshmen at the University of North Carolina.
Berhalter Cleared to be Re-Hired
As a result, Berhalter was the subject of an independent investigation, one which has since cleared Berhalter to be re-hired as the national team’s manager. Despite the fallout with Reyna, Berhalter’s success on the pitch speaks for itself, and it’s clear that he has the support of his team. Berhalter is a popular boss among his US national team.
Conclusion
Gregg Berhalter’s return as head coach of the US men’s national team is imminent, and it’s clear that he has the support of his team. Despite a high-profile fallout with Gio Reyna and his family, Berhalter has been cleared to be re-hired as the national team’s manager. With his success on the pitch, including winning the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup trophies and qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with the youngest team in the world, it’s clear that Berhalter is the right man for the job.