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The Chicago Fire announced Tuesday that they’ve hired Gregg Berhalter as both director of football and head coach.
“After a thorough and detailed search that included a number of exceptional candidates, it became clear that Gregg Berhalter was the right choice to lead our sporting operations,” Fire FC owner and chairman Joe Mansueto said in a statement. “His previous success in MLS, where he thrived in a dual role, and his experience leading the U.S. Men’s National Team over the last six years make him an ideal fit for our vision for the Club moving forward.”
Before being hired by the Fire, Berhalter’s most recent job was with the U.S. men’s national soccer team. He was fired in July after the team failed to advance out of the group stage at the Copa America, but had experienced success, most notably leading the USMNT back to the World Cup in 2022 after failing to qualify in 2018. Prior to coaching the USMNT, Berhalter coached the Columbus Crew.
Not a lot of clubs use the one-person model for head coach and football operations anymore. It’s gone out of fashion over time, but the Fire believe it can work with Berhalter. According to The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio, Berhalter “will oversee all aspects of the Fire’s sporting operations” and report directly to Mansueto.