Oct 09,V7N- Gregg Berhalter has been appointed as the new head coach and director of football for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer (MLS), the club announced on Tuesday. Berhalter, who was dismissed as the U.S. men's national team manager after the team's disappointing early exit at the 2024 Copa America, will officially take over his role after the conclusion of the 2024 MLS regular season.

This move marks Berhalter's return to MLS, where he previously had a successful stint as the head coach and sporting director of the Columbus Crew from 2013 to 2018. During his tenure, Berhalter led the Crew to the playoffs in four out of five seasons and guided the team to the MLS Cup Final in 2015.

Joe Mansueto, Chicago Fire's owner and chairman, praised Berhalter's appointment, stating: "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." Mansueto highlighted Berhalter's MLS success and his experience with the U.S. men's national team as key factors in his selection.

Frank Klopas, the current head coach of Chicago Fire, will step down after the team's final match on October 19 and transition into a new role as vice president of football.

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