The USMNT would have a head coach, and that's Gregg Berhalter

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It has been 412 days since Bruce Arena resigned from his position as head coach of the US men's national team since that embarrassing defeat against Trinidad and Tobago and his inability to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but it seems that the USMNT finally has a permanent director. As reported by CBS Sports Wednesday night – and the Columbus Post-Dispatch a few before: Columbus Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter will be the next USMNT coach.

This is an interest free hiring when you consider some of the names that have been cited over the last year. At one point, it was thought that the manager of Atlanta United and future manager of the Mexican national team Tata Martino, who had also made stays in Barcelona and with the Argentine national team, was in contention. The same goes for Julen Lopetegui, who led the Spanish national team, FC Porto and Real Madrid. Despite the interest of the big names in the international football community, it does not seem that a real in-depth coaching research has ever taken place, with only two candidates interviewed for the job.

Earnie Stewart was hired as general manager of the USMNT& nbsp; Five months ago, no one was really sure what his job would be if it were not for finding a new coach. At that time, Berhalter was supposed to be the first choice and, in every way, that never changed. Only Berhalter and former FC Dallas coach& nbsp; (and new coach of Club Tijuana) Oscar Pareja was interviewed for the job, and a good part of the long months of waiting was spent waiting for Berhalter to finish his season with the crew, which ended on November 12th.

But what Berhalter, 45, lacks in flash, he compensates, finally, simply. After a year of rudderless drift, the USMNT badly needed a permanent trainer to start steering the ship and now has one. Finally.

Although he lacks the brilliance of a Martino or a Lopetegui, Berhalter is highly respected in the American football community. A native of New Jersey, he won 44 selections for the USMNT between 1994 and 2006 and competed in two Yank World Cups. As a player, he was educated at the University of North Carolina and the University of North Carolina before practicing his trade across Europe before ending his career with L.A. Galaxy. After his playing years, he became assistant coach of the Galaxy and was eventually hired by Swedish second division club Hammarby IF, where he spent a season and a half before being sacked. Berhalter & then returned to MLS to coach the crew, which has played four times in the playoffs during his five years in Columbus.

One of the main criticisms of Berhalter's hiring is that he is another member of the MLS responsible for the USMNT while other more interesting options were available. (Although it seems by the time Lopetegui would have extended his hand& nbsp; at US Soccer, Berhalter was already taking over.) A large part of the fan base would like to see a coach with European experience leading the national team again, saying it is becoming increasingly common for leaders to the USMNT. young players to play abroad. However, after the debacle that characterized the last years of Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as coach, it seems likely that American football has once again pushed to hire a person with whom everyone felt at ease and familiar.

This familiarity is also a potential reason for criticism. Berhalter is the brother of Jay Berhalter, COO of American football. That's not a problem at the moment – apart from the usual criticism that American football is a network of old players – but that could be the case if Berhalter did not bring results. If Berhalter's term as coach was to become a debacle – it happened to Klinsmann and Arena, so it's not impossible – and he was not dismissed from his duties, his connections with the C -Suite from US Soccer would be and should, go to the microscope.

But these worries can be dispelled for another day and, if you are a supporter of the USMNT, hope to never be mentioned again. & Nbsp; The simple fact that a permanent coach is in place is both a reason for relief and excitement. Although Berhalter may not be the most exciting choice, he is still a fairly young coach with the bulk of his managerial career ahead of him and he is likely to bring many new and fresh ideas with him. . He will be judged on what he does on the pitch and he will have the most talented generation of young American players to help him out. If nothing else, we can stop focusing on a coaching search and start focusing on football again. With Berhalter at the helm, the USMNT can turn the page and start a new era for the team, definitely defeating the qualification for the World Cup and the past year, as well as its aftermath in the mirror.

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It has been 412 days since Bruce Arena resigned as head coach of the US men's national team since this embarrassing defeat against Trinidad and Tobago and its inability to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but it seems that the USMNT finally has a permanent director. As CBS Sports announced Wednesday night – and some Columbus Post-Dispatch comments before – Columbus Crew head coach, Gregg Berhalter, will be the next USMNT coach.

This is an interest free hiring when you consider some of the names that have been cited over the last year. At one point, it was thought that the manager of Atlanta United and future manager of the Mexican national team Tata Martino, who had also made stays in Barcelona and with the Argentine national team, was in contention. The same goes for Julen Lopetegui, who led the Spanish national team, FC Porto and Real Madrid. Despite the interest of the big names in the international football community, it does not seem that a real in-depth coaching research has ever taken place, with only two candidates interviewed for the job.

Earnie Stewart was hired as CEO of the USMNT five months ago, and no one knew exactly what his duties would be if it was to find a new coach. At that time, Berhalter was supposed to be the first choice and, in every way, that never changed. Oscar Pareja, Berhalter's only coach and former FC Dallas coach (and new coach of Club Tijuana), was reportedly questioned, and much of the long waiting period was spent waiting for Berhalter to finish his season with the crew 12.

But what Berhalter, 45, lacks in flash, he compensates, finally, simply. After a year of rudderless drift, the USMNT badly needed a permanent trainer to start steering the ship and now has one. Finally.

Although he lacks the brilliance of a Martino or a Lopetegui, Berhalter is highly respected in the American football community. A native of New Jersey, he won 44 selections for the USMNT between 1994 and 2006 and competed in two Yank World Cups. As a player, he studied at the University of North Carolina and the University of North Carolina before moving to Europe before finishing his career with L.A. Galaxy. After his playing years, he became assistant coach of the Galaxy and was eventually hired by Swedish second division club Hammarby IF, where he spent a season and a half before being sacked. Berhalter then returned to the MLS to coach the crew, who played in the playoffs four times during his five years in Columbus.

One of the main criticisms of Berhalter's hiring is that he is another member of the MLS responsible for the USMNT while other more interesting options were available. (Although it seems that Lopetegui has already contacted US Soccer, Berhalter was already about to replace him.) There is a large part of the fan base that wants to see a manager with European experience direct again the national team, considering that become more and more common so that the best young USMNT players play abroad. However, after the debacle that characterized the last years of Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as coach, it seems likely that American football has once again pushed to hire a person with whom everyone felt at ease and familiar.

This familiarity is also a potential reason for criticism. Berhalter is the brother of Jay Berhalter, COO of American football. That's not a problem at the moment – apart from the usual criticism that American football is a network of old players – but that could be the case if Berhalter did not bring results. If Berhalter's coaching position became a debacle – it happened to Klinsmann and Arena, so it's not impossible – and he's not relieved of his duties, his relations with the -From the US Soccer would be, and should, come under the microscope.

But these worries can be dispelled for another day and, if you are a supporter of the USMNT, hope to never be mentioned again. The simple fact that a permanent coach is in place is both a reason for relief and excitement. Although Berhalter may not be the most exciting choice, he is still a fairly young coach with the bulk of his managerial career ahead of him and he is likely to bring many new and fresh ideas with him. . He will be judged on what he does on the pitch and he will have the most talented generation of young American players to help him out. If nothing else, we can stop focusing on a coaching search and start focusing on football again. With Berhalter at the helm, the USMNT can turn the page and start a new era for the team, definitely defeating the qualification for the World Cup and the past year, as well as its aftermath in the mirror.