Former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter could be heading to Mexico. According to several reports from local media, GGG is the leading candidate to take the reins of Club América for the Apertura 2023 tournament.
TUDN journalist Gibrán Araige was the first to report on the matter.
AMÉRICA
¿ÁGUILAS AL ESTILO GRINGO?Gregg Berhalter LA OPCIÓN # 1 que tiene la directiva azulcrema para que llegue al banquillo del América!!!
Están en pláticas…
Mientras tanto André Jardine sigue siendo otra de las opciones!!!
AÚN NO HAY DT!!!@TUDNMEX @TUDNUSA pic.twitter.com/zRxsLKkJC6
— Gibrán Araige (@GibranAraige) June 13, 2023
Club América's interest on Gregg Berhalter
After being eliminated in the Clausura 2023 semifinals, Club América decided to part ways with Fernando Ortiz to start a new project that could lead to a title they haven't been able to get since 2018.
However, 23 days later, the Mexican giants still haven't found someone to fill the vacancy. What's worse, several candidates, including former Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso and the legendary Javier Aguirre, have rejected their approach.
With the beginning of Apertura 2023 at the turn of the corner – the tournament starts on June 30 – the pressure of having a new manager is increasing. And it is in that scenario that the name of Berhalter came to mind.
¿Gregg Berhalter a @ClubAmerica?
En vivo por TUDN pic.twitter.com/UthY1bHA38— Futbol Club (@TUDNFC) June 14, 2023
Araige's report states that Club América owners are impressed with his profile, considering his experience in MLS with Columbus Crew and managing the United States in the 2022 World Cup. The reporter even claimed that Las Águilas have already made a concrete proposal to the American coach.
"The decision is now up to Berhalter," he said.
During an interview with the TV show "Linea de 4" on TUDN, Club América sports director Santiago Baños neither confirmed nor denied the interest in Berhalter, but he described the coach's profile they were looking for, with several characteristics aligning with Berhalter's playing style.
"We want someone young, with up-to-date ideas, a clear methodology. Someone offensive-minded, able to keep possession and high pressure."
Santiago Baños en @Lineade4TUDN, cuenta que Berhalter es uno más de la larga lista de la que se ha hablado y lo más importante: describe el perfil de DT que busca el América. pic.twitter.com/RPoJZWVUNt
— Daniel Nohra (@cantogoles) June 14, 2023
Could the language be a barrier? No. Spanish is one of the four languages Berhalter speaks, apart from English, German and Dutch.
What about Sparta Rotterdam?
Speaking of Dutch, Club América is not the only option on Berhalter's mind.
Sparta Rotterdam, a team in the Eredivisie, is also considering hiring Berhalter to replace Maurice Steijn, who was appointed as Ajax's new boss on Wednesday.
GGG: 'AMERICA IS NOT A JERRY SPRINGER EPISODE'
Gregg Berhalter interview with ESPN from 1998 when GGG was playing in Netherlands with Sparta Rotterdam. Decades before Gregggate.America might not be tabloid TV. But American Soccer...? pic.twitter.com/DQnSDNNHbX
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) March 17, 2023
Berhalter previously played for Sparta Rotterdam between 1996 and 1998 and has close connections with the club. However, he is not the only candidate for the job, as Jaap Stam and Ron Jans are also being considered.