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After months of searching for something new and fresh, the US men’s national team is sticking with the same face.
The USMNT is set to bring back Gregg Berhalter as its manager, The Athletic reported Thursday night, with negotiations reportedly being finalized imminently.
It’s a stunning decision given the nature of his exit, yet somehow is perhaps unsurprising at the same time.
The news occurred during the USMNT’s 3-0 win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final under interim manager BJ Callaghan, ending a managerial search that had started to grow concerningly long.
Berhalter, 49, was in charge from 2019-22, leading the USMNT to 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup titles, through the last qualifying cycle and to the round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup.
He also owns the highest winning percentage in the nation’s history with a 37-11-12 record.
But it appeared likely the US would move in a new direction after a saga-filled few months following the team’s World Cup exit to the Netherlands in the round of 16 as well as letting his contract expire on Dec. 31, 2022.
The controversy centered around Berhalter’s relationship with one of the team’s highest-acclaimed young stars, 20-year-old Gio Reyna, who surprisingly received minimal playing time at the World Cup despite being projected as a starter or major contributor.
