Gregg Berhalter has said he has options, and Club América may well be on his list.
The Mexico City club is without a coach after Fernando Ortíz’s resignation in May, and reports from TUDN and ESPN have both said that the former (and still possibly future?) U.S. men’s national team boss is a strong candidate to take over at Estadio Azteca.
Those reports gained steam after remarks from the club’s director of football Santiago Baños, who acknowledged the Berhalter rumors among a long list of other prominent names linked to the Águilas job.
“There’s been a list of 37 [candidates] that has come out, including Berhalter, [Eduardo] Coudet, [André] Jardine, [Hernán] Crespo, [Fernando] Gago,” Baños said on an appearance on TUDN show Línea de 4. “That’s just today, in addition to those that have come in recent weeks.”
Baños took the time to rule out Javier Aguirre, one of the many candidates being bandied about, but notably did not do the same when Berhalter’s name came up.
Adding to the situation, Baños gave a broad description of what América wants out of their next head coach, and it aligns with the general perception of who the 49-year-old Berhalter is as a manager.
“We want someone young, with up-to-date ideas, a clear methodology,” explained Baños. “Someone offensive-minded, able to keep possession and high pressure.”
Whether their top choice is Berhalter or anyone else on the apparently endless list, the club plans to announce their hire by Saturday.
“Now, we are very advanced in the negotiation,” said Baños. “I hope that we will have news on Thursday, between Thursday and Friday, and that he joins the group on Saturday in Salt Lake City for the friendly against Toluca.”
Berhalter also linked to Sparta Rotterdam
América may be the most prominent club job Berhalter has been publicly linked with, but it’s certainly not the only team on the list.
On Tuesday, Rijnmond Sport reported that Berhalter is one of the final five candidates in consideration to take over at Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam. Sparta has been in the market for a new head coach after former boss Maurice Steijn was hired away by Ajax, a move that was officially announced on Wednesday.
Berhalter played for Sparta early in his career, spending 1996-98 with De Kasteelheren. However, there are some other familiar names said to be in the running, including two former FC Cincinnati head coaches in Jaap Stam and Ron Jans.
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