With speculation mounting that the United States men’s national team (USMNT) coach Gregg Berhalter could lose his job after his side crashed out in the group stages of Copa América 2024 on home soil, we look at some of the potential replacements who could take over.
Where Did It Go Wrong for Gregg Berhalter?
Despite offshore sportsbooks having the US as their pre-tournament fifth favorite to win Copa América 2024, the team failed to make it out of the group stages. This is the first time the competition’s host nation has failed to do so in the competition’s 108-year history.
An opening 2-0 win over Bolivia didn’t cause too much concern. It was a 1-0 defeat to minnows Panama that led to people questioning if Gregg Berhalter was still the right person for the job following seven years in charge.
This shocking loss meant the US needed a result against the highly-rated Uruguay team on Monday to make it out of the group stages. A 66th-minute penalty from Mathías Olivera was ultimately enough to put the USMNT out of the tournament:
While Gregg Berhalter is officially still in a job, it looks like it’s only a matter of time before there’s a change. The 50-year-old failed to get the most out of a golden generation of US players.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in North America, US Soccer officials will want to make sure that there is no repeat of the subpar performances that were seen during the US Copa América games.
Despite having a contract that would take him through to the end of the World Cup, speculation is rife that the position could soon be up for grabs. Now is the time to make a change if they’re going to go down that road, as it will give the incoming manager time to develop the team ahead of the World Cup.
Who Might Replace Gregg Berhalter?
While soccer betting sites aren’t yet taking odds on the next manager, some big names are being linked with replacing Gregg Berhalter. Officials could once again go down the route of a US-born manager with plenty of experience in the MLS, or they could prefer a big-name overseas coach taking the helm. Here’s a look at some of the people who could be the next USMNT manager:
1. Jesse Marsch
The most realistic candidate to take over is Jesse Marsch. The 50-year-old played 14 seasons in the MLS before coming on board as an assistant of the USMNT in 2010 and 2011 under Bob Bradley.
He went on to manage Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls in the MLS and then ventured abroad. He had a successful spell with German side RB Salzburg before taking his talents to the English Premier League with Leeds United.
The latter ultimately got relegated, with Marsch losing his job in February 2023. Marsch took over the Canadian national team in May and the team has progressed through the group stages of the US Copa América 2024 campaign.
He has already expressed interest in the USMNT role, interviewing for the job early last year before US Soccer decided to stick with Gregg Berhalter. He certainly has the credentials in the game and experience in the US system to be the leading candidate at this point.
2. Joachim Löw
While Löw has been out of the soccer world since stepping down as the Germany manager in 2021, he has the pedigree to make the US team a force in a short space of time. He took over the German team from the legendary Jürgen Klinsmann in 2006 and proceeded to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He hasn’t gotten involved in any team since then, despite recently having a link to the Serbia job. It appears that he may have the appetite to get back into the game. US Soccer previously hired Jurgen Klinsmann, so Löw wouldn’t be the first German manager of the team.
3. Thierry Henry
As one of the most legendary players in the game over the past few decades, Thierry Henry hasn’t managed to replicate his success on the sidelines. While his spell with Monaco wasn’t too successful, the Arsenal legend did bring a lowly Montreal team to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
He also has previously expressed interest in taking over the USMNT. Henry appears interested in taking over a national team, showcased by his recent interview for the vacant Wales job.
4. Pellegrino Matarazzo
Matarazzo is another US-born manager who has tons of qualifications under his belt. He currently is over TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, transforming the side from a relegation favorite to qualifying for a place in the Europa League. While he has not yet managed in the US, he has expressed his desire to get involved in the game in his homeland.
With some of the key players on the USMNT plying their trade in Germany, Matarazzo’s first-hand understanding of the European game would be invaluable.
5. Steve Cherundolo
If US Soccer wants to go with someone who is currently at the top of the domestic game in the country, then Cherundolo is the obvious candidate. He won the MLS Cup in his first season after taking over Los Angeles FC in 2022 and lost the final the following year against Columbus Crew.
He isn’t rigidly sticking to one philosophy with his team, having the ability to adapt and change depending on what the next opponent will be doing. This is a strong skill set in international soccer, especially when playing in big tournaments. A jump to the USMNT isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for Cherundolo.
What Next?
Despite all the speculation, Gregg Berhalter is still in the job as the USMNT manager. There are many things for US Soccer to weigh up before making a decision, so it might take some time for a change to happen.
If officials decide to relieve Gregg Berhalter of his duties, there are plenty of strong candidates happy to take over, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in North America.