Gregg Berhalter
Encyclopedia
Gregg Berhalter is a retired American
soccer player who currently is an assistant coach for Los Angeles Galaxy
in Major League Soccer
.
, and was a high school teammate of Claudio Reyna
at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
in Newark, New Jersey
. He played college soccer
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. In 1993, he spent the collegiate off season playing for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL.
in 1994. He later played for Sparta Rotterdam
and SC Cambuur Leeuwarden in the Netherlands (later they had US born executive Alex Pama also there), and with Crystal Palace
in England (where he briefly played alongside Jovan Kirovski
). During his spell at Crystal Palace he scored once against Bradford City.
In 2002 Berhalter signed with Energie Cottbus
of the German Fußball-Bundesliga
, and went on to make 111 league appearances with the team, captaining them to a successful promotion back to the Bundesliga. In 2006, Berhalter signed with 1860 Munich
of the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga
, and was named captain of the team, he stayed there for a further two and a half years, making 73 league appearances for Die Löwen.
In April 2009, Berhalter moved back to the United States after a 15-year career in Europe, and signed a contract with Major League Soccer
, his first club contract in his home country. He was revealed as a Los Angeles Galaxy
player on April 3, 2009. In his first season with the Galaxy, they reduced their goals against in half from 61 to 30, with Berhalter being a leader in defense while successfully mentoring Omar Gonzalez
to Rookie of the Year honors.
On November 14, 2009, he scored in the 103rd minute of the scoreless Western Conference final, propelling the Galaxy to a 2–0 win over the Houston Dynamo
and into the 2009 MLS Cup. It was his first goal in 28 appearances with the club.
In his second season, the Galaxy won the MLS Supporters Shield and further reduced their goals against to 26 for the season, a Galaxy record.
On October 12, 2011 Berhalter announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2011 MLS season.
on October 15, 1994, against Saudi Arabia
. Berhalter played a significant role for the U.S. at the 2002 World Cup, stepping in for the injured Jeff Agoos
and starting the last two games, and in doing so became the first Crystal Palace
player to play in a World Cup match.
On May 25, 2006, Berhalter was added to the U.S. national team's roster for the 2006 World Cup
, replacing the injured Cory Gibbs
. Berhalter expressed confidence in the ability of the team in the run up to the tournament, but was an unused substitute in all three group games. The U.S. was eliminated after finishing at the bottom of Group E in the first round with one draw and two defeats.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently is an assistant coach for Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and College
Berhalter grew up in Tenafly, New JerseyTenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 14,488. Tenafly is an affluent suburb of New York City....
, and was a high school teammate of Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna is a retired American soccer player and the current USSF US Youth Soccer Technical Director. He was the captain of the United States national team before retiring from international football following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is widely considered one of the...
at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School is a college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is an all-boys, secondary school located on a urban campus serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades...
in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. In 1993, he spent the collegiate off season playing for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL.
Professional
Berhalter left UNC after his junior year, signing with Dutch club ZwolleFC Zwolle
FC Zwolle is a Dutch football club based in Zwolle, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the country's second level of professional club football. The club was founded in 1990 after the bankruptcy of PEC. They have played in the Eredivisie, the highest tier of Dutch football, for a total of...
in 1994. He later played for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
and SC Cambuur Leeuwarden in the Netherlands (later they had US born executive Alex Pama also there), and with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in England (where he briefly played alongside Jovan Kirovski
Jovan Kirovski
Jovan Kirovski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Club career:...
). During his spell at Crystal Palace he scored once against Bradford City.
In 2002 Berhalter signed with Energie Cottbus
Energie Cottbus
FC Energie Cottbus is a German association football club based in Cottbus, Lusatia . It was founded in 1963 as SC Cottbus in what was, at the time, East Germany...
of the German Fußball-Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, and went on to make 111 league appearances with the team, captaining them to a successful promotion back to the Bundesliga. In 2006, Berhalter signed with 1860 Munich
TSV 1860 München
Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season...
of the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, and was named captain of the team, he stayed there for a further two and a half years, making 73 league appearances for Die Löwen.
In April 2009, Berhalter moved back to the United States after a 15-year career in Europe, and signed a contract with Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, his first club contract in his home country. He was revealed as a Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
player on April 3, 2009. In his first season with the Galaxy, they reduced their goals against in half from 61 to 30, with Berhalter being a leader in defense while successfully mentoring Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez is an American soccer player. He played youth soccer for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-College:...
to Rookie of the Year honors.
On November 14, 2009, he scored in the 103rd minute of the scoreless Western Conference final, propelling the Galaxy to a 2–0 win over the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
and into the 2009 MLS Cup. It was his first goal in 28 appearances with the club.
In his second season, the Galaxy won the MLS Supporters Shield and further reduced their goals against to 26 for the season, a Galaxy record.
On October 12, 2011 Berhalter announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2011 MLS season.
International
Berhalter earned his first cap for the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
on October 15, 1994, against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
. Berhalter played a significant role for the U.S. at the 2002 World Cup, stepping in for the injured Jeff Agoos
Jeff Agoos
Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Agoos is a retired American soccer defender, and one of the all-time appearance leaders for the United States national team....
and starting the last two games, and in doing so became the first Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
player to play in a World Cup match.
On May 25, 2006, Berhalter was added to the U.S. national team's roster for the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, replacing the injured Cory Gibbs
Cory Gibbs
Cory Gibbs is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
. Berhalter expressed confidence in the ability of the team in the run up to the tournament, but was an unused substitute in all three group games. The U.S. was eliminated after finishing at the bottom of Group E in the first round with one draw and two defeats.
Los Angeles Galaxy
- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
(1): 20112011 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Supporter's Shield (1): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...
, 20112011 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Western Conference Championship (2): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
, 20112011 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
External links
- Player profile Major League Soccer
- Gregg Berhalter Yanks Abroad