Gregg Berhalter

Gregg Matthew Berhalter (, ; born August 1, 1973) is an American soccer coach and former player who is currently the head coach of the United States men's national soccer team.

He is the first person in United States history to participate in the FIFA 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.

Berhalter previously coached Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, Hammarby in Sweden and served as an assistant coach for LA Galaxy.

Gregg Matthew Berhalter was born on August 1, 1973, in Englewood, New Jersey, and grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, and was a high school teammate of Claudio Reyna at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.

He played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 1993, he spent the collegiate off season playing for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL.

Berhalter is the godson of Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame baseball player Carl Yastrzemski.

Berhalter left UNC after his junior year, signing with Dutch club Zwolle in 1994.

He later played for Sparta Rotterdam and Cambuur Leeuwarden in the Netherlands (later they also had U.S.-born executive Alex Pama there), and with Crystal Palace in England (where he briefly played alongside Jovan Kirovski).

During his time at Crystal Palace, he scored once against Bradford City.

Berhalter earned his first cap for the U.S. national team on October 15, 1994, against Saudi Arabia.

He went on to play at the 1995 Copa América and the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.

In 2002, he was ranked as one of the top 50 players in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In 2002, Berhalter signed with Energie Cottbus of the German Bundesliga.

He went on to make 111 league appearances with the team, captaining them to a promotion back to the Bundesliga.

Berhalter played a significant role for the U.S. at the 2002 World Cup, stepping in for the injured Jeff Agoos and starting the last two games against Mexico and Germany, and in doing so became the first Crystal Palace player to play in a World Cup match.

In 2006, Berhalter signed with 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga, and was named captain of the team.

He stayed there for a further two and a half years, making 73 league appearances for Die Löwen.

On May 25, 2006, Berhalter was added to the U.S. national team's roster for the 2006 World Cup, replacing the injured Cory Gibbs.

Berhalter expressed confidence in the ability of the team in the run up to the tournament, 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.

After a 15-year career in Europe, Berhalter moved back to the United States in April 2009.

He signed a contract with Major League Soccer, his first club contract in his home country.

He was revealed as a Los Angeles Galaxy player on April 3, 2009.

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 mentoring Omar 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 the Houston Dynamo and into the 2009 MLS Cup.

It was his first goal in 28 appearances with the club.

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.

In 2011, LA Galaxy won both the supports shield and MLS Cup in Berhalter's final season.

Following a season as Los Angeles Galaxy's assistant coach, Berhalter was named head coach for Swedish club Hammarby on December 12, 2011.

Berhalter became the first American-born manager to manage a professional team in Europe.

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".

Hammarby were in fifth place at the time of the sacking.

Berhalter became the sporting director and head coach of Columbus Crew on November 6, 2013.

Under Berhalter, Columbus Crew qualified for the playoffs four out of five years, in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

They reached the MLS Cup 2015 but lost at home 2–1 to the Portland Timbers.