Alexi Lalas is one of the most recognizable faces of soccer in America. Once as a robust defender with curly red hair and a goatee of the same color in the nineties and as a television pundit for many years. And as such, Lalas is quite critical. Jürgen Klinsmann often felt that during his time as US national coach.
There is a lot to complain about for Lalas at the moment. Because the national team is without a coach, without a manager and without a sports director: “There is no head coach, there is no GM and now there is no sporting director.”
Home World Cup could be crucial for US Soccer
Sports director Stewart and manager McBride announced their departure a few days ago. The contract with national coach Gregg Berhalter ended on December 31st. Three important posts, three vacancies – and not even three and a half years before the home World Cup. Lalas sounds the alarm.
“Under normal circumstances, this would be an important moment. But looking ahead to 2026, it’s so much more meaningful. Because this is a huge opportunity – and we can’t afford to do anything wrong. I think now is a defining moment, not just in the history of the men’s national team, but in the history of US soccer.”
But instead of full focus and concentrated work, chaos prevails. This is made clear by the personal details of the Berhalter. US Soccer did not renew with him, but first opened an independent investigation against him. In mid-December, the mother of national player and Dortmund professional Gio Reyna contacted the association and claimed that Berhalter was said to have kicked his girlfriend at the time after an argument in 1991. She wanted revenge on the coach who, in her opinion, did not give her son enough playing time at the World Cup. There was even talk of blackmail.
Sporty no longer in focus
The interesting thing: Berhalter’s girlfriend at the time has been his wife for 25 years, they both have four children together – and emphasize that the incident has long been forgotten. And that’s why former international turned TV pundit Taylor Twellman says: “That says everything about the state of US Soccer. What are we actually talking about? Why are we talking about something like that, but not about the sporting?”
The association wants to have found a national coach by the summer. Berhalter is still considered a candidate. But in America they often dream of a big international name. Zinedine Zidane has already canceled. Argentinian Marcello Bielsa and Jose Mourinho are currently being traded. But so far it has often only become the small solution – for example Gregg Berhalter.