Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC has announced the appointment of Gregg Berhalter as the new Director of Football and Head Coach. This decision makes Berhalter the 10th full-time head coach in the club's history. He will oversee all sporting operations, including the First Team, Chicago Fire FC II, and the Chicago Fire Academy, reporting directly to Owner and Chairman Joe Mansueto.

Berhalter brings with him three decades of experience as a player, coach, and sporting executive. His previous role was with the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT), where he led them to three major trophies and a return to the FIFA World Cup. "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," said Joe Mansueto.

Frank Klopas, the current head coach, will step down after the final regular season match on October 19th against Nashville SC at Soldier Field. Klopas will transition to Vice President of Football. "I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to serve as head coach of this great Club once again," Klopas stated.

Berhalter expressed his gratitude for being appointed: “I’m honored to be named Director of Football and Head Coach of the Chicago Fire, and I would like to thank Joe Mansueto for his trust." He aims to transform Chicago Fire into a world-class organization that reflects the values of its city.

During his tenure with USMNT, Berhalter achieved a record of 44-17-13 over 74 matches. The team won several titles under his leadership, including advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Before joining USMNT, he coached in Sweden with Hammarby IF and in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Columbus Crew.

As a player, Berhalter spent 18 seasons playing professionally across various countries including Netherlands, England, Germany, and United States. Internationally, he earned 44 caps for USMNT and played in two FIFA World Cups.

The upcoming match against Nashville SC marks not only an end for this season but also a significant transition for Chicago Fire FC under new leadership.