Former US head coach Gregg Berhalter reflects on the “mourning period” following his firing

Former U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter said Thursday he had to go through a period of “grief” after US Soccer fired him and before he could move on to his next job.

“It’s a really difficult moment when you’re fired as a coach and I don’t want to compare it to life and death at all because it’s not that, you’re still alive, but it’s like mourning a death,” Berhalter said during his inaugural press conference with the Chicago Fire. “You wake up the next day and feel really bad. Your confidence suffers and it’s a really difficult moment. For me, it was really about being with my family in those moments and giving myself the time, freedom and space to be sad.”

Berhalter was introduced as the Fire’s director of soccer and head coach on Thursday afternoon, three months after he was fired by US Soccer on July 10 after the USMNT failed to advance through the group stage of the Copa America.

“We didn’t perform well in the Copa America and when you don’t perform well at a high level there are consequences,” Berhalter said. “I take full responsibility for that, but it still hurts. Once you’ve overcome this period of grief and have support around you, now it’s time to reflect.”

Berhalter compiled a 44-17-13 record in 74 games and a 29-9-7 record in official competitions during his tenure as USMNT head coach, leading the USMNT back to the 2022 World Cup, where they had previously failed to advance past the group stage in the knockout phase against the Netherlands.

He was the first former USMNT player to coach the team at the World Cup.

In this summer’s Copa América, the Americans opened with a victory over Bolivia, but lost to Panama in the second game of the group stage and played down much of the game after Tim Weah’s red card in the 18th minute. The USA then lost to Uruguay in the group finals and were eliminated.

It was the first time the U.S. failed to advance past the group stage in a continental or global tournament on home soil.

Berhalter said after his firing that he had “passed on some information to the players” and “we were able to get a lot of feedback that came back to me and I analyzed that and said, ‘Okay, how can I improve?'” How can Do I get better for this next opportunity?’”

“My vision is simple: Build one of the top clubs in North America” – Gregg Berhalter #cf97 pic.twitter.com/HuqRJr8DhY

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) October 11, 2024

Berhalter said the feedback motivated him to pursue his next opportunity.

“You’re getting hungry again. And in that time when I was getting hungry, there were a number of options that I was considering,” he said. “I kept coming back to Chicago and the potential and direction. It’s not every day that you get to work for a man like Joe Mansueto, who knows what top level is and how to build something really good and sustainable.”

Berhalter also praised the attitude of his US successor Mauricio Pochettino, saying the two had already had a relationship before the Argentine moved to US Soccer.

“He’s a great guy,” Berhalter said. “I think he is a great addition to US Soccer, a top coach who is trained at the highest level, knows what pressure is like and knows how to behave in pressure situations. I think it’s a really good attitude.”

Berhalter was asked if he would have a relationship with Pochettino if the Fire had talent eligible for the national team, such as youngsters Brian Gutierrez and Chris Brady.

“I can assure you there will be a relationship,” Berhalter said. “And we will be able to rely on each other by both providing him with players and hopefully getting feedback from him.”

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Berhalter will have complete control of the athletic side of the organization and will attempt to turn around the Chicago club that has struggled greatly over the past 15 years and has only made the playoffs twice since the end of the 2009 season, albeit one Market with huge potential.

Berhalter already lives in Chicago, where US Soccer is currently headquartered. That also played a role in his decision to take the US job.

“This was a moment where I chose my family, and you don’t always do that,” Berhalter said. “As a player you are selfish, you always take the best opportunity and you move and move and move. Then you get a coaching job and move with your family.

“That was the moment when I said: This opportunity is so good, there is so much potential in this club and my family will be stable. You can be in one place. My daughter is currently graduating from high school, she is now in middle school. And that was a real part of the decision. Europe has always been a goal of mine, and it is not secondary. Just because I came here doesn’t mean there will never be a chance in Europe. But right now this is the best opportunity for me and my family.”

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(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)