Former U.S. males’s nationwide crew head coach Gregg Berhalter has been employed as director of soccer and head coach of the Chicago Fireplace, in keeping with sources briefed on the choice.
The official announcement is anticipated on Tuesday.
Berhalter, 51, was fired as coach of the U.S. crew after they did not get out of the group stage on the Copa America this summer time. Berhalter beforehand led the U.S. again to the World Cup in 2022, the place the People superior from the group stage earlier than falling to the Netherlands within the Spherical of 16. Berhalter compiled a 44-17-13 document in 74 matches as USMNT head coach and 29-9-7 document in official competitions throughout his tenure, profitable the 2021 Gold Cup and two CONCACAF Nations League titles.
Berhalter will oversee all features of the Fireplace’s sporting operations, together with the primary crew, MLS Subsequent Professional crew Fireplace FC II and the academy. He’s anticipated to start in his twin function after the Fireplace full the common season on Oct. 19. Berhalter will report on to proprietor Joe Mansueto.
Chicago Fireplace sporting director Georg Heitz introduced in August he can be leaving the membership to return to Europe on the finish of the season. The Fireplace’s present coach, Frank Klopas, will step down on the finish of the season and can transition to a brand new function throughout the membership as vp of soccer. A member of the Fireplace’s ring of honor, Klopas served as interim supervisor twice over the previous 4 seasons earlier than being named head coach going into 2024.
Berhalter, who has lived in Chicago for a number of years, will keep within the Windy Metropolis to attempt to flip round a Fireplace crew that has been one of many worst within the league during the last 15 years.
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The Fireplace have made the playoffs simply twice since 2010 and have ranked twentieth or worse within the desk in eight of the previous 10 seasons. Regardless of being one of many higher-spending groups in MLS within the switch market beneath Mansueto, who took full management of the crew in 2019, the Fireplace missed on a number of big-money strikes and did not make the playoffs in every of the final 5 seasons. Chicago is in final place within the Japanese Convention with a 7-17-9 document with one match to go.
Berhalter beforehand served as sporting director and head coach of the Columbus Crew from 2013 to 2018. He led the Crew to a 67-58-45 regular-season document and made the playoffs in 4 out of 5 seasons, together with a visit to MLS Cup in 2015 and a visit to the Japanese Convention ultimate in 2017.
The Fireplace are primed for main adjustments beneath Berhalter. Chicago is anticipated to have two designated participant spots open after the departure of Xherdan Shaqiri (and with Gastón Giménez capable of be purchased down), and have a number of different gamers popping out of the ultimate 12 months of their assured contracts, together with middle backs Rafael Czichos and Wyatt Omsberg, midfielder Fabian Herbers, proper again Allan Arigoni and a number of gamers on the supplemental roster. Different gamers are set to enter the ultimate years of their offers in 2025, together with ahead Tom Barlow, Giménez, winger Chris Mueller, middle again Tobias Salquist and defender Arnaud Souquet.
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