🇺🇸 Gregg Berhalter: Five questions that need answering | OneFootball

After over a year of waiting, the USMNT finally hired the man who thought would manage the team all along: Former Columbus Crew manager Gregg Berhalter.

Of course, not everyone is happy about the appointment (including the author of this article), so we must ask the questions that need to (or should) be answered… eventually.

1. What the hell took so long?

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) took nearly 14 months to find a new manager after Bruce Arena resigned following their failed World Cup Qualifying campaign.

Throughout the entire process, Gregg Berhalter was the known favourite and there didn’t seem to be much effort in finding the right candidate as opposed to waiting for the MLS season to end after the USSF got themselves (insert finger quotes) ‘re-organised’.

To be fair, the USSF had to deal with their first presidency change since 1998, hiring Carlos Cordeiro in February to replace the oft-criticised Sunil Gulati.

Earnie Stewart was named USSF General Manager in August 2017 and, though he didn’t start his job until a year later, announced guidelines for the process of finding a new manager that, according to the USSF, (allegedly) started with 33 candidates.

The list was then (allegedly) reduced to 11 before USSF came up with their two final candidates: Berhalter and former FC Dallas manager Oscar Pareja – who has since taken over the Xolos job in Liga MX.

This was, of course, after they had (allegedly) spoken to eight USMNT players with at least 100 caps who had captained the team at least five times.

Regardless of how they got there, 14 months to find an average manager on a slightly above-average Major League Soccer team is absolutely ridiculous.

2. Why didn’t the USSF think about Julen Lopetegui?

Though Lopetegui hasn’t had the best year after falling out with Spain and failing at Real Madrid, there are reasons why it’s very odd that the USSF failed to even consider the experienced manager.

In 20 matches with Spain, Lopetegui didn’t lose a single match. Not once.

Despite a horrific showing at Real Madrid, Lopetegui has amassed a career 119-34-40 record with Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid ‘B’, Spain U-19s, Spain U-20s, Spain U-21s, FC Porto, Spain, and Real Madrid over 15 years. (That’s pretty good)

However, USSF turned down Lopetegui immediately, stating that they were ‘too far down the line in its process to entertain’ Lopetegui’s request for an interview.

(Cue the famous Taylor Twellman ‘What are we doing’ gif)

3. Does Berhalter’s hire have anything to do with nepotism?

Gregg Berhalter’s brother, Jay, has been a huge presence in the USSF since 2000, once acting as their COO (Chief Operating Officer) and who now acts as the Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer. He is heavily involved behind the scenes but is rarely in the limelight.

Jay hired Earnie Stewart, who then hired Gregg Berhalter. Coincidence?

Jay used to be, interestingly, the president of the North America division of Kentaro AG, which, according to Bloomberg, was ‘a sports rights agency, engages in the acquisition and distribution of television broadcasting rights of football federations, football clubs, leagues, and boxing stable.’

Kentaro was based in Switzerland and went bankrupt in 2015 after reportedly having debts in the millions and failing to deliver promises such as friendly matches – mainly involving Swiss club St. Gallen and hosting high-profile international friendlies at their stadium.

Despite these failures, though much information is unavailable, USSF allowed Jay to come back with open arms despite an investigation into the company in relation to a FIFA money laundering probe in 2015.

It seems that Jay has a LOT of power.

4. Is Berhalter even qualified?

Playing experience? Check. He has 44 caps with the USMNT and scored two goals. He also played for a trio of Dutch sides before moving to Crystal Palace in 2001.

Berhalter then moved to Energie Cottbus from 2002 to 2006, where Berhalter made 111 league appearances while they were in and out of the Bundesliga.

The 45-year-old then moved to 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga until 2009, where he eventually captained the team before moving onto the LA Galaxy – where he finished out the final three years of his career.

Coaching experience? Not so much.

Gregg Berhalter has only had two first-team professional coaching gigs since retiring from professional football: Columbus Crew (2013-2018) and Swedish second-division side Hammarby IF (2011-2013) – where he became the first American to manage a professional side in Europe.

Despite wanting to be known for playing attractive, attacking football, the reality hasn’t exactly matched his dream.

At Hammarby, he was fired essentially for a lack of goal-scoring prowess.

At Columbus, the Crew made the MLS Cup post-season four out his five years and reached the final in 2015.

This year, the Crew’s lack of attacking results were the big headline (outside of staying in Columbus).

Despite allowing the fewest shots in MLS and attempting the fifth-most shots in the league, the Crew finished 2018 with a -2 goal difference and 15th in the league in shots on target.

To say Columbus had trouble with their shot selection is a massive understatement. The best example would be to look at Pedro Santos, Artur, and Harrison Afful: the trio combined for 171 shots this year but only scored three goals.

In reality, Berhalter’s style is one that requires, high levels of possession, intelligent movement, which has unfortunately led to disappointing rates of success in the offensive third.

It’s likely to be quite boring and unsuccessful at the international level.

5. Can Berhalter solve the USMNT’s attacking woes?

Aside from his attacking deficiencies (see above), Berhalter is known as a ‘striker whisperer’ of sorts and has thrived in getting the best from limited resources – something that could help him at the international level.

In his role with the Columbus Crew, a club that is known for not spending big, Berhalter brought in strikers who would go on to have their career-best goal tally in their first season three times since 2013.

His latest accomplishment is reviving the career of Gyasi Zardes. Zardes had a breakout year in 2014 with the LA Galaxy, scoring 16 goals before a dreadful three-year stretch that saw him score just 14 combined goals and even try out at left-back before switching to Columbus.

In 2018, Zardes scored a career-high 20 goals (including the post-season) and earned a recall back to the national team.

It’ll be interesting to see whether or not Berhalter will feel Zardes is the man to carry the torch up-top or whether he’ll continue integrating veterans like Bobby Wood into his side.

The 45-year-old will be officially introduced during a press conference on Tuesday in New York.