Gregg Berhalter is a former soccer player and current head coach of the United States Men's National Soccer Team. Retired in 2011 as a soccer player, the American coach now is building his career as a manager. He has already coached several professional soccer clubs in the United States and Europe as well.
Berhalter is the first U.S. world cup veteran to coach U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT). He played as a defender for USMNT and various soccer clubs. With over twenty years of experience as a player and nine years of coaching tenure, the two-time World Cup veteran now looks to build his coaching career with fierce management techniques.
From playing college soccer at his university to earning a UEFA "A" License and U.S. Soccer Pro License, Berhalter has a soccer tale biography. Let's start from the beginning.
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Early Life and Education
Gregg Berhalter was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on August 1, 1973, to his parents, Joseph Berhalter and Dolores Berhalter. He grew up with his brothers, Jay Berhalter and Kristin Berhalter, in Tenafly, New Jersey, where he started playing soccer at a young age. As a high school student, Berhalter played with the former USMNT's captain Claudio Reyna and Robert Ducey at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.
After graduation, he signed up at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played college-level soccer at the university and is considered one of the greatest players in its men's soccer history. He scored 13 goals and 10 assists as a central defender for the team. He also played for Raleigh Flyers of the United Soccer League (USISL) during his post-graduate years. Berhalter spent three years exercising his soccer abilities and signed his first professional contract shortly afterward.
Gregg Berhalter's brother, Jay Berhalter, served as the chief commercial officer at U.S. Soccer Federation. With over 15 years with the federation, Jay resigned from his post in 2020.
Career As A Soccer Player
After finishing his junior year, Berhalter stepped up as a professional soccer player. Berhalter trained three weeks with the Bundesliga side Schalke 04 before joining Dutch club Zwolle in 1994. He was transferred to Sparta Rotterdam in May 1996. Berhalter's Dutch saga continued when he was again transferred to SC Cambuur Leeuwarden in 1998, where he headed his first goal in the 1998/1999 season.
Gregg Berhalter also played for Energie Cottbus in Bundesliga. Image Source: Instagram/ dekadenfussball.
In August 2001, Berhalter signed a contract for an English side Crystal Palace. He appeared in 13 matches for the team and scored a goal against Bradford City in its 2001/2002 season. The following year, Energie Cottbus of the German Bundesliga approached Berhalter, and he accepted the offer. During his four years at the German club, being a captain, he led his team to promote back to the Bundesliga, made 111 appearances for the club, and scored 9 goals. In late 2006, he signed with another German club, 1860 Munich, where he played until 2009 making 73 appearances and scoring 8 goals.
Gregg Berhalter's European soccer career came to an end when he moved back to the United States in April 2009. Despite being a US citizen, he never got the chance to play in his home ground until the MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy signed him on April 3, 2009. Learning from European soccer, he maintained his composition on the field as a center-back and helped the club reach the 2009 MLS Cup Final. On November 14, 2009, Berhalter scored a 103-minute tap-in goal against Houston Dynamo to help Galaxy reach the next round in the cup. Next year, he maintained a strong defensive line to help Galaxy win the MLS Supporters Shield. In 2011, he performed his player duty and also filled in the position of assistant coach for the team.
After 17 years as a professional soccer player, Berhalter announced his retirement on October 12 of the 2011 MLS season.
International Career
Gregg Berhalter's career in an international arena began on October 15, 1994, against Saudi Arabia. In 2002, he replaced his injured teammate Jeff Agoos to play two games in the World Cup. He was again included in the U.S. national team's squad for the 2006 World Cup, but he didn't play in any of the games.
Career As A Coach
Having played in four different countries, Berhalter experienced soccer in a multi-cultured environment. He learned about various tactical styles, defensive structures, transitional plays, and finishing aspects of the game as a player with different coaches. Berhalter began to put his knowledge into the game when he took a dual role (player/assistant coach) in his final season with the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup and Supporter Shield campaign in 2011. Since then, he has coached various national and international clubs in his coaching career.
Hammarby IF
Following his retirement as a soccer player, he took the reins at Swedish club Hammarby IF as its head coach on December 12, 2011. He became the first American to manage a professional soccer team in Europe. The former center-back defender did some development on the club's defensive structure but was nine points adrift from the promotion zone, which resulted in his sacking on July 24, 2013. After just one and a half-season, the club fired him, stating "lack of offensive play" by Hammarby chairman Kent Hertzell.
Columbus Crew Sc
On November 6, 2013, American soccer club Columbus Crew SC appointed Gregg as their Head Coach and Sporting Director to help their soccer operations. Returning home, Berhalter needed to prove himself as a deserving coach.
Gregg Berhalter was appointed as a coach of Columbus Crew SC in 2013. Image Source: Gregg Berhalter's Facebook.
During his five years of management, he led the club to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Under his leadership, the club successfully managed to reach the 2015 MLS Cup Final but failed to win the trophy. He resigned from his duties at the club in 2018.
Until the end of 2016, Berhalter became the holder of U.S. Soccer's "PRO" and UEFA "A" Coaching License.
United States Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT)
The U.S. Soccer Federation called up the former USMNT soccer player to take charge at the U.S. Men's National Team in late 2018. He was presented as the new head coach of the USMNT on December 2 at 12 p.m. by General Manager Earnie Stewart.
Gregg Berhalter was appointed as the manager of USMNT in 2018. Image Source: USMNT's Instagram.
Since the inauguration, Berhalter has been consistent with his young players and led the team to amazing performances. Earning his first victory as the national team coach in a friendly match against Panama on January 27, 2019, Coach Gregg has won fifteen, drew three, and lost five games as of 31st January 2021. During his run, Berhalter also led USMNT to the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in 2019 and CONCACAF Nations League Final round in 2020.
Gregg Berhalter Net Worth And Earnings
From transitioning as a soccer player to managing teams from the touchline, Berhalter has seen it all in the world of soccer. Gregg should have earned a fortune as his salaries and bonuses with such a dynamic range of career highlights. According to The Guardian, Gregg Berhalter earned a total of $313,109 in his first month of work. Berhalter received a base compensation of around $100,000 in salary plus a $200,000 signing bonus in his first month of charge. If added up, his annual salary would be around $1.2 million.
On May 22, 2019, Berhalter spent a part of his wealth on a contemporary mansion in the Southport Corridor area of Lakeview. Bought for $2.61 million, the gorgeous mansion indicates USMNT's current coach and his family's lavish lifestyle. And with all the things he has achieved to date, one can expect Gregg Berhalter's net worth to be of a grand sum.
Married Life And Children
Apart from soccer, Berhalter has a beautiful family of five. He has a loving wife and four children.
Gregg Berhalter's wife, Rosalind Berhalter, also known as Rosalind Maria Santana or Roz Santana, was born on Jan 21, 1973. The two met each other while studying at the University of North Carolina. Mrs. Berhalter was a soccer player and played alongside Tisha Venturi, Mia Hamm, and Angela Kelly. Gregg and Rosalind got married in 1999 and have welcomed four children since then.
Rosalind and Gregg Berhalter's son, Sebastian Berhalter, followed in his father's footsteps and pursuing soccer. He currently plays for Columbus Crew as a midfielder. Gregg has three more children with his wife, all of whom live their lives away from the spotlight. But let's hope we get to meet the Berhalter family members in the coming days.
Trivia and Facts
- He played alongside David Beckham in LA Galaxy in the 2009 season.
- Mrs. Berhalter was also a former soccer player.
- He is the godson of a former baseball player and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer, Carl Yastrzemski.
