U.S. Soccer has decided to part ways with Gregg Berhalter following a disappointing performance by the U.S. men’s national team at the Copa America on home soil.
The team finished third in the group, with Uruguay and Panama advancing to the knockout rounds. With just two years left until the United States co-hosts the World Cup, they decided to make a change.
deeper
The U.S. national team had questions before withdrawing from the Copa America. Now those voices are getting louder.
There are many high-profile foreign managers on the market, especially Jurgen Klopp after leaving Liverpool this summer, and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is hoping to appoint Berhalter’s successor.
“I think now that we’re in a better position to do more of a targeted search, I would be more inclined to go hard and select early on specific candidates that I think meet the criteria that we’re looking for,” said U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker.
Asked whether speaking English would still be a criterion for the position, Crocker said: “I think effective communication is vital when you need to get a message out to players. That hasn’t changed. We will be considering a very wide range of candidates.” Man. I’ve started right away. Our intention is to continue this process.
Here are some potential candidates to replace Berhalter and the style of football they might bring to the U.S. National Team. Who would you like to see take over?
Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp likes to use a high defensive line and a high press in order to regain the ball early when possession is lost – as shown below CompetitorThe following game style wheel, An overview of a team’s performance compared to Europe’s seven major domestic leagues.
High risk, high reward – always be first, always trying to seize the initiative. The word “careful” is not in the 57-year-old’s dictionary. Looking at the “Patient Attack” metric below (23 out of 99), it’s clear that Klopp wants his team to grab the ball by the throat and punish their opponents as quickly as possible.
Klopp will bring a breath of fresh air in terms of tactics and man-management, and he has shown he can get the best out of talent across the board – fostering a sense of unity.
The U.S. National Team roster could also be attractive to him. Take, for example, the fierce attack that won so many plaudits at Anfield. Klopp’s Liverpool are in top form, with an energetic, speedy front three and attackers such as Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi Might appeal to the Germans, at least in theory.
Since all of these players, and indeed the majority of the U.S. national team’s main roster, play in Europe, Klopp will also be familiar with their leagues and the tactical systems they operate at club level.
Gareth Southgate
Southgate has overseen a transformation in England’s reputation since taking over as national team manager in 2016.
While fans may be frustrated by Southgate’s lack of tactical innovation with such a talented squad, the 53-year-old has shown a ruthlessness to his character in recent months – Most notably, he leaves the experienced players Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford behind.
(Carl Raisin/Getty Images)
While Southgate has favored a back four in recent years, he has shown flexibility in adapting to a back three – often as a countermeasure to opposition squads, as England have done against Switzerland and the Netherlands heading into 2024 As shown in the European Cup final.
International football differs from club football both tactically and qualitatively, meaning that the role of international football is less about day-to-day coaching and more focused on the long-term vision of the national team. Southgate may at times be criticized for his tactical acumen, but his almost ambassadorial presence is a valuable asset that should not be underestimated at an international level.
Nor should he be willing to take appropriate risks with talented but inexperienced players. Kobbie Mainoo, 19, and Adam Wharton, 20, have been included in his current squad on the grounds that they are good enough and old enough, while the likes of 20-year-old Chelsea goalkeeper An American like Gaga Slonina might feel like she has the potential to be a great player. Manchester City prodigy Cavan Sullivan, 14, will also be the same age as Spain’s Lamine Yamal when the 2026 World Cup begins.
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred style is high intensity and pressing, and Chelsea’s statistics from last season showed that the team did not go off when the ball was lost (intensity: 89 out of 99 times).
The issue of both penalty areas is a key issue for Chelsea’s season under Mauricio Pochettino. Their ability to create chances (83 of 99) is strong, but this seems to come at the expense of a poor defensive record (chances blocked: 32 of 99). Chelsea’s 1.4 non-penalty expected goals conceded per 90 minutes has always put them on a difficult climb in every game, and Pochettino has struggled to find that balance for much of the season.
As prosaic as it sounds, international football starts with a strong defensive foundation, and Pochettino did not show that in his latest stint in the dugout.
With such shortcomings, it is natural to place more emphasis on the personal characteristics of the back line and goalkeeper; areas where the current US lineup has problems. Goalkeeper Matt Turner barely featured for Nottingham Forest last season, with his kicking and distribution being questioned at times in the Copa America. Behind him, Ethan Horvath’s quality dipped again, conceding a poor goal when Turner was forced into action after suffering an injury against Panama.
Additionally, there is a lack of obvious candidates to replace aging centre-back Tim Ream and doubts about the quality behind him and Chris Richards. At Chelsea, Pochettino arguably has better defenders, but they still struggle.
Thomas Tuchel
Despite a disappointing season relative to Bayern Munich standards, the underlying numbers for Tuchel’s side suggest they remain dominant in both penalty areas. Competing with history-making, unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen wasn’t part of the plan, but Bayern’s expected goals against rate of 1.6 per 90 – which speaks to the quality of chances created and conceded – is Europe’s best The best teams in the top five leagues.
Tuchel’s tactical acumen is undeniable, but his character issues may be a factor working against him. In his three most recent roles at PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, his average tenure was one year, nine months and 15 days. Of course, international football is different, but if the U.S. national team is looking for a long-term vision, Tuchel may not be the best choice. However, he is available after leaving Bayern earlier this summer and meeting with Manchester United.
Tuchel celebrates winning the Champions League with Chelsea in May 2021 (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
There may also be a thorny question as to how Pulisic will view Tuchel’s appointment. The pair worked together at Stamford Bridge and it was clear their relationship was strained at times, with the United States captain admitting he was “dumbfounded” to be dropped from the 2021 Champions League semi-finals.
Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank, 50, will bring a clear tactical philosophy. His 5-3-2 formation is combative, disciplined and a nightmare for opponents. In the past three seasons, only Brighton has scored more than Brentford’s 35 points against the “big six” in the Premier League. The west London team has defeated Manchester City in two games and Chelsea in three games. Beat Manchester 4-0.
Likewise, his ability to shift his team’s formation into a 4-3-3 formation throughout the season shows his tactical versatility, which is well-suited to international football where maximizing a player’s strengths is crucial .
The fact that Frank saw Brentford reach the Premier League for the first time and have now remained there for three consecutive seasons speaks to the transformative work he has done. He is an experienced coach and a good motivator with a long history of success.
He also spoke of being open to possibilities, which would be an exciting new opportunity for the dashing Dane. His ability to like people and boost morale may prove popular with American players, especially one like Gio Reyna who has often clashed with Berhalter.
(Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Ralf Rangnick
As the godfather of gegenpressing, you know what you’re going to get from Team Ralf Rangnick. His energetic, relentless attitude inspires many of the coaches he works with, and when asked to describe his playing philosophy in a recent interview with Coaches’ Voice, the German said: “It’s a high-pressure, counter-attack. High-pressing style. I would say fast, proactive, attacking, counter-attacking, counter-pressing, exciting.
Anyone doubting Rangnick’s ability to instill such an approach at international level need only look at Austria’s runaway approach during Euro 2024 this summer. Their 10.1 passes allowed per defensive action (PPDA) (a lower metric indicates a more aggressive pressing style) suggests that they are the most pressing team in the tournament.
When it comes to possession, Rangnick firmly believes that possession has a purpose. Where possible, try to pass the ball forward and limit those square or backward passes that slow down the game. It’s a style that will be very familiar to fans of the New York Red Bulls under Jesse Marsch, a staunch believer in Rangnick’s frenetic attacking methods.
Team USA has guys like Pulisic and an in-form Pepe Reina who can make things happen, while also being athletic enough to press hard like Rangnick.
The 66-year-old has international management experience, having been in charge of Austria for two years.
Patrick Vieira
While Patrick Vieira’s Strasbourg finished 13th in Ligue 1 last season, the 48-year-old recently shared his ambitious goals for the future.
Vieira in action in Strasbourg in July 2023 (Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images)
“Our goal is to play European football in the next three years,” Vieira said on the Stick to Football podcast. “Certainly there’s been a big shift with the young players from this year, which has been challenging and difficult – we struggled and went through some difficult times.”
Vieira favors a thoughtful, possession-based style of football, but he has few players capable of implementing it. At Crystal Palace, he had to compromise those plans with an attritional counter-attack that led to Vieira being sacked after a run of 12 games without a win.
Strasbourg’s style of play looks equally chaotic, as Vieira encourages his team to pass the ball when in possession (82 of 99) – even if those opportunities are rare (in possession, 99 17 of 3) – but his team often lacked the bite at the top end of the field (chances created, 41 of 99).
Vieira’s experience coaching New York City FC (NYCFC) in Major League Soccer (MLS) would be a useful start in adapting to U.S. soccer, but his recent role shows that compared to other candidates on the roster, Vieira’s He is still a developing coach.
It is in his original position, midfield, that the current squad is rich with talent. Young players like Real Betis’ Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman can learn from one of the best players the position has ever seen. Meanwhile, the more experienced trio of Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Timo Weah will have a player who knows exactly what it’s like to play at two of Italy’s biggest clubs, AC Milan and Juventus. Feeling head coach. The USMNT has tried to hire great players as coaches before (see Jurgen Klinsmann) with varying results, but Vieira’s resume is the best.
Having a World Cup winner in charge of the next World Cup is certainly a potential advantage.
(Popular Photo: Getty Images)
