US Soccer has decided to delay a future contract renewal for Gregg Berhalter. Instead, the US Soccer Federation has to oversee the January camp.
A final decision has not yet been made on whether to renew Berhalter’s contract for two or four years. That decision is pending an investigation of blackmail claims by Berhalter. Additionally, US Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart is conducting a review of Berhalter’s tenure to determine if he is the best option for the US to advance.
Now that we know that US Soccer has delayed its final decision, it’s surely time to evaluate other candidates for the position. After all, the United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup on home soil. And if this country ever wants a serious shot at making a deep tournament run, 2026 is the time.
Now more than ever it is important that the USA make a bold decision to hire a coach who can develop the team over the next three years to be the best it can be. There is no time to settle.
Time to look at other coaches after US Soccer Berhalter deal delayed
The following list are suitable candidates who should be on US Soccer’s radar. Essentially, they are world-class out-of-work trainers with incredible experience that would serve the US well.
1. Tomas Tuchel
The former Chelsea, PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz manager recently supervised Christian Pulisic. On a superficial level, the two had a good relationship. And Pulisic, one of the most important players on the team, could easily adapt to a Tuchel system. Of course, they both had problems. It may not have been anything personal, even if Pulisic’s father expressed concern for him, but Pulisic had limited playing time with the German.
Still, Tuchel is a talented coach. He led PSG to the Champions League final for the first time in 2020. Then, a year later, he won the competition as Chelsea manager. His career achievements include a pair of Ligue 1 titles, a DFB-Pokal, the FIFA Club World Cup and multiple “Manager of the Year” accolades in 2021.
His system showed success in cup competitions. Tuchel’s three proprietary uses allow for an easy transition from strong defense to fast-paced offense. Reece James thrived and became a top winger. The same goes for Ben Chilwell, who dealt with a major knee injury, he also thrived under Tuchel. Sergiño Dest, one of the bright young prospects in the USMNT camp, could develop quickly under Tuchel. Plus, Dest already has a knack for offensive prowess.
Tuchel has no international playing experience yet, but he raised an interesting possibility.
2. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane may not have been an international soccer manager either. Yet few managers rival the legend’s success in his short stints with Real Madrid. Look, that’s the only team he’s ever coached. He has two spells that gave notable success. Three Champions League titles, a pair of LaLiga crowns, two Club World Cups and two UEFA Super Cups, and then two more victories in the Spanish Super Cup. Remember, he only had three full seasons in charge, then two more abbreviated seasons.
His best trait is man management. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and more. It seems as if anyone could coach a team with that depth and talent for success. However, for whatever reason, Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari just couldn’t do it.
As US Soccer hands Gregg Berhalter a new contract, fans wanted to see Zidane’s tournament skill applied to an international team that, despite being as talented as Real Madrid, is a group of promising young players. Also, it would be a great learning experience to have a World Cup winner on staff.
3. Robert Martinez
MartÃnez has a desire to return to club play. Therefore, he probably never considered USMNT work. However, in terms of available names, Martinez is perhaps one of the more practical options.
The Spaniard coached Belgium for a relatively long period. MartÃnez took charge of the Red Devils in 2016 after the team missed out on the European Championship against Wales. With MartÃnez in charge, Belgium did not have much success. A third place finish at the 2018 World Cup was certainly the highlight. However, a quarter-final exit at Euro 2020 preceded a shock group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup. Despite this, Belgium consistently topped the FIFA World Rankings. They dominated in friendlies and finished fourth in the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals.
The key problem was the fact that Belgium was among the most talented teams in the world, but failed to achieve anything remarkable. Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens were all in their prime during Martinez’s time in charge. Still, Belgium didn’t make too much noise.
If US Soccer decided not to give Gregg Berhalter a new contract, Martinez could have provided invaluable experience. His time in two World Cups showed what to do well and, just as importantly, what not to do.
4. Luis Enrique
Another coach out of a job after the 2022 World Cup, Luis Enrique was hailed as a top coach. He had Spain humming along, playing beautiful football. That was, at least, after the opening match of the tournament. The next three games in the World Cup, draw, loss and elimination on penalties, showed the flaws in Enrique’s system. If a team can win possession of Enrique’s team, they are vulnerable.
Still, Enrique has the experience and knowledge to develop a young American team. Berhalter tried to dominate in possession. In fact, the United States had a large portion of possession in three of their four World Cup games. The only one that didn’t was against Iran, a game in which the team clung to 1-0. Even then, the USMNT had 49% of possession.
Therefore, Enrique could easily slip into the possession-based system that Berhalter employed. However, he would incorporate the quick passes and clinical finishing that the United States lacked at times against the Netherlands. However, like MartÃnez, Enrique wants to play for clubs again. He doesn’t bring the tiki-taka and passing style to Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.
5. Mauricio Pochettino
Not so long ago, Mauricio Pochettino was the most in-demand product among coaches. He led Tottenham Hotspur to their most successful moments in decades. A Premier League battle fell short against Leicester City. Several years later, Tottenham played in their first UEFA Champions League final. Dramatic second legs against Manchester City and Ajax perhaps propelled the team to more glory than it deserved.
He saw PSG as the logical next step, a team ripe for Champions League success. Pochettino arrived in the winter of 2021 to replace the outgoing Thomas Tuchel. Despite defeating Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the round of 16, PSG fell to Manchester City, losing in both legs of that semi-final tie. The Argentine coach then had all the expectations in the world for his second season, since the club acquired Lionel Messi. However, it was a relative disaster for the Parisians. PSG won the league, but that was their only trophy. It was the first time since the 2012/13 campaign that PSG had only won one trophy. PSG changed coaches, with the entry of Christophe Galtier.
Pochettino remains unemployed but is a household name in the potential market for jobs across Europe. The United States was one of those jobs, although it is not the familiarity of club management in Europe. Gregg Berhalter remains coach under a new contract with US Soccer, but Pochettino brings an air of desire and commitment. He showed immense growth at PSG and Southampton, taking those clubs to new heights. He could have done the same with the United States.
Berhalter’s time is over
Under Berhalter, the United States did more than make it to the World Cup, something it failed to do under the previous administration. Berhalter’s United States won the 2021 Gold Cup and the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League. In both, Berhalter used vastly different squads to defeat Mexico in the final game. In CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, the United States finished third. It was three points behind Mexico and Canada.
However, not everything in Berhalter’s time at the helm of the United States has been a success. The controversy over the handling of the use of Giovanni Reyna in the World Cup was an embarrassing look for the coach. Berhalter said that Reyna did not play due to injury. However, he later revealed on a panel that Reyna did not play due to off-field issues, including a lack of commitment in training.
Others complained about Berhalter’s team selection. He left Jordan Pefok out of the World Cup squad and went with MLS talent like Jordan Morris.
In the 2022 World Cup, his team reached the round of 16 of the World Cup. There, the US lost to the Netherlands, 3-1. Focusing on the game itself, he was outplayed by Louis Van Gaal, who did not see the United States as much of a threat.
Most recently, Berhalter revealed a domestic violence incident between himself and his girlfriend (now wife). Although it happened over 30 years ago, it’s not a good image for a US Soccer coach leading a team to the next World Cup.
The time has come for US Soccer to act.
