Gregg Berhalter and the US males’s nationwide group (USMNT) crashed out of the 2024 Copa America on Monday. Following the stunning loss towards Panama final week, the US wanted a constructive outcome towards Uruguay. That didn’t materialize. Regardless of the promise of a “golden technology,” the USMNT is out. It’s an unmitigated catastrophe on residence soil for the People.
The primary perpetrator is Gregg Berhalter, who – in seven years within the job – did not get a single win over a Prime 25 facet in FIFA’s rankings outdoors Concacaf. In all probability, Berhalter is on the way in which out as head coach. That instantly turns the dialogue to who might are available in and exchange him. Formally, Berhalter is beneath contract by the 2026 World Cup. But, that ought to not cease US Soccer from searching for a brand new head of the nation’s males’s group.
Prime candidates to interchange Gregg Berhalter on the USMNT
When US Soccer rehired Gregg Berhalter after the 2022 World Cup, it mentioned it performed an in depth course of. Clearly, that course of was a flawed plan by US Soccer Technical Director Matt Crocker, so US Soccer can’t afford to get it fallacious this time.
There are a number of candidates the US might go after if they’re to make a splash in preparation for the World Cup 2026, which can be on residence soil. The main candidates are as follows:
Jesse Marsch
The highest coach that might have taken over for Berhalter in early 2023 was Jesse Marsch. On the time, Marsch was out of a job following his dismissal from Leeds within the 2022/23 marketing campaign. Marsch confirmed some promise with RB Salzburg. Moreover, he has an understanding of US Soccer and the way it operates following his time as a participant and coach in MLS. That has lengthy been an unofficial qualification for hiring a USMNT head coach.
US Soccer interviewed Marsch for the place however unusually determined to re-hire Berhalter as an alternative. Marsch handed on a number of job provides from golf equipment round Europe and finally chosen the Canada nationwide group as his subsequent job.
With the neighbors to the north, Marsch has had a small pattern dimension of video games to price his progress, however development is clear. Granted, Canada has scored only one purpose in Marsch’s 5 video games as a coach. That’s nonetheless sufficient to tug out a draw towards France, the No. 2 group within the FIFA World Rankings, in Bordeaux. Canada defeated Peru within the Copa America group stage whereas drawing towards Chile.
Not like the US, Canada is thru to the knockout stage of the Copa America. Sure, Canada has a number of high gamers like Alphonso Davies or Jonathan David. But, as a complete, the US has a greater crop of expertise. He ought to, as soon as once more, be the chief amongst candidates to interchange Gregg Berhalter because the USMNT head coach.
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry, like Marsch, has had a combined bag of outcomes as a coach. His first senior managerial submit was with Monaco, which didn’t go in line with plan. He confirmed extra success with Montreal in MLS, together with a spot within the MLS Cup Playoffs with a weaker group.
France’s efficiency within the upcoming Paris Olympics might be fascinating for US Soccer. Thierry Henry has expressed curiosity within the USMNT job, however US Soccer regarded the opposite method.
On the similar time, Thierry Henry has reportedly been in talks with Wales to change into its subsequent head coach. If Wales is near hiring Henry, why can’t the US? In any case, Henry can be a guiding voice together with his expertise to impose on the People.
Marcelo Bielsa
One of many extra certified candidates within the working for the USMNT job earlier than Gregg Berhalter arrived as the top coach was Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine finally went to Leeds United, the place he guided the facet again to the Premier League. Over time since then, Bielsa was employed by the Uruguay nationwide group. In a little bit of poeticism, Bielsa was the one to ship the ending blow on Berhalter’s time because the USMNT head coach.
The one difficulty is courting Bielsa away from Uruguay. One of many hurdles is wage. US Soccer has been hesitant to pay coaches properly, with Emma Hayes of the USWNT signaling a change in that coverage. Hayes left the Chelsea girls’s group to tackle the very best wage for any coach of a girls’s group. US Soccer would seemingly must take one other drastic step whether it is to carry on Bielsa, who’s the highest-paid coach on the 2024 Copa America.
Nonetheless, you get what you pay for. And amongst coaches, Bielsa is considered one of the vital scholarly coaches worldwide.
Pellegrino Matarazzo
If US Soccer needs to stay with an American, Pellegrino Matarazzo is arguably essentially the most certified of the coaches hailing from the US. Matarazzo is at the moment the top coach at TSG Hoffenheim, the place he has had immense success turning the Bundesliga facet round. At the start of his stint with Hoffenheim, the membership was a relegation candidate. But, in the latest marketing campaign, Matarazzo helped the facet into the Europa League. Pellegrino Matarazzo has not spent any time within the American soccer scene, a minimum of professionally. But, his {qualifications} are clear.
Matarazzo beforehand mentioned he has an curiosity within the USMNT job. Admittedly passive, Matarazzo mentioned he would need to return to the US sooner or later as a coach. The USMNT can be a wise spot for Matarazzo with ample European expertise as a participant and coach. He can connect with those that got here by the ranks in Germany like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams, the leaders within the squad.
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Copa América 2024
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