Gregg Berhalter has agreed to return as coach of the US national team, a stunning turn of events five and a half months after his contract expired amid a feud with the Reyna family and a three-decade domestic violence investigation. .
Berhalter has agreed to coach the team until the 2026 World Cup, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday night because no announcement had been made.
The US Soccer Federation is likely to make an announcement on Friday, the person said. The decision was first reported by The Athletic.
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Head coach Gregg Berhalter of the United States greets supporters at the end of the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday. December 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Berhalter, 49, was signed in December 2018 after failing to qualify for that year’s tournament in Russia and led the Americans to the second round of last year’s World Cup, where they were knocked out with a 3-game loss. -1 against the Netherlands. The United States gets an automatic berth in the 2026 World Cup as a co-host with Mexico and Canada.
He led the Americans to 37 wins, 11 losses and 12 ties and was discussing a new contract with USSF sports director Earnie Stewart when Gio Reyna’s family, upset over his lack of playing time in Qatar, contacted with the USSF about the allegation involving Berhalter. in a 1992 incident with the woman he became his wife.
Gio Reyna’s parents, former US captain Claudio Reyna and midfielder Danielle Egan, were angry that Berhalter discussed his issues with Gio at a post-World Cup management conference that, while they did not identify Gio, clearly It was about the 20-year-old midfielder.
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Giovanni Reyna (7) and head coach Gregg Berhalter (R) of USA during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA at Khalifa International Stadium on 3 December 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The USSF retained the legal team of Alston and Bird to investigate, and the law firm said in a report released March 13 that while Berhalter’s conduct «likely constituted the misdemeanor assault on a female,» Berhalter did not hide information improperly when you were hired. .
«There is no basis to conclude that employing Mr. Berhalter would create legal risks for an organization,» the report said.
Berhalter said there were «no excuses for my actions that night» and said the behavior was never repeated.
Stewart announced on 26 January that he was resigning and was replaced at the end of April by Southampton’s director of football operations, Matt Crocker, who was tasked with leading the search. Crocker said he planned to make a decision by the end of the summer.
Anthony Hudson, one of Berhalter’s assistants, became interim coach on January 4 and led the Americans to two wins, one loss and two draws, then resigned on May 30 to become manager of the Qatari club Al Markhiya.
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Head coach Gregg Berhalter of the United States, left, walks with Christian Pulisic after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and the United States, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday December 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
BJ Callaghan, another assistant, replaced Hudson and led the Americans to the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Mexico on Thursday night.
Christian Pulisic, America’s top player, said last week that the USSF should consider bringing Berhalter back.
Earlier Thursday, Jesse Marsch’s agent, Ron Waxman, tweeted that his client will not become the American coach.