Gregg Berhalter Wishes To Remain USMNT’s Coach Amid Investigation

Gregg Berhalter is “saddened” by the revelations that he kicked his wife during a fight in 1991 when they were teenagers but still wants to stay as the US men’s head coach.

US Soccer is looking into the 49-year-old after he acknowledged his involvement in the event.

“Our entire family is saddened by these events,” the coach said.

He said in a statement to the Harvard Business Review: “I think the worst part of it for me is my heart aches for my wife, because it was her story to tell, if she chose to or not. It just really, really saddens me.”

“But it’s moving forward and that’s the way we have to look at it together as a family. The family’s been amazing and has taken it one day at a time and moving forward.”

The US was defeated by the Netherlands in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under Berhalter, whose contract expired at the end of December.

Next World Cup will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada in 2026.

Anthony Hudson, the US’s current assistant coach, will be in charge of the January camp while a “technical evaluation” of the men’s national team program is carried out.

Berhalter continued: “When we started in 2018, we wanted to change the way the world views American soccer. I think when you ask around the world now about our team, the world sees us in a completely different light.”

“But now it’s about being able to take that next step and that next step is doing something that no US team has ever done, and that’s get to the semi-finals and see what happens from there. There’s a lot of great challenges involved, and of course I’d like to continue in my role.”

Who is Gregg Berhalter?

Gregg Matthew Berhalter, an American soccer coach and former player, was born on August 1, 1973.

He is the squad’s head coach for the men’s national soccer team of the United States.

Prior to leading LA Galaxy, Berhalter worked as an assistant coach with Columbus Crew SC of Major League Soccer, Hammarby IF of Sweden, and Columbus Crew SC.

On October 15, 1994, against Saudi Arabia, Berhalter received his first cap for the American national team. In addition to starting the final two games for the Americans in place of the injured Jeff Agoos, Berhalter made history by becoming the first member of Crystal Palace to participate in a World Cup game.

In place of the injured Cory Gibbs, Berhalter was added to the U.S. national team’s roster for the 2006 World Cup on May 25, 2006.

In the weeks leading up to the competition, Berhalter voiced confidence in the team’s abilities, but he was not utilized as a replacement in any of the three group games.

The United States was eliminated after placing last in Group E in the opening round with one tie and two losses.

What did Berhalter Do?

On January 4, after an accusation was made against him, Berhalter and his wife Rosalind issued a statement detailing the occurrence.

He claimed that someone had approached him during the World Cup and threatened to “take him down.”

Claudio Reyna’s wife, Danielle, claims she reported the incident to US Soccer in a statement released on Wednesday.

She claimed it was “unfair” that her son, 20, was being “trashed” while Berhalter had allegedly done something “far worse” when they were both about the same age.

Reyna, a player for Borussia Dortmund, did not begin any US matches at the 2014 World Cup.

Early in December, Berhalter said in a speech at a leadership event that an anonymous player had almost been sent home from Qatar for “not living up to standards on and off the field.”

Reyna wrote on Instagram that he was informed by the coach that his involvement at the competition would be “extremely limited” and that he allowed it to affect his “training and behavior” after Berhalter mistakenly expected his comments would remain confidential and they were subsequently allowed to be public.

He continued by saying that he had apologized to Berhalter and his squad.

Rosalind’s former roommate Danielle, who earned six caps for the US women’s national team, claimed Rosalind “did not make any threats” when she reported the incident to Earnie Stewart, the sporting director of US Soccer.