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Gregg Berhalter Defends Legacy: ‘I’m the Winningest USMNT Coach of All Time’

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Nov 3, 2025 11:38 AM ET

Gregg Berhalter and his Chicago Fire team have been eliminated from the MLS playoffs after losing 3-0 to the Philadelphia Union over the weekend.

Despite the loss, Berhalter was praised for taking the Chicago Fire to their first MLS playoffs since 2017. The American head coach was praised for taking the Chicago Fire to an 8th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.

Chicago Fire defeated Orlando City 3-1 in the MLS Wild Card playoff match to advance to the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia Union.

Oct 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter looks on before the game against Toronto FC at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Ahead of the MLS playoffs, Berhalter was asked about the USMNT. Some fans believed that his tenure was not successful, but new questions were asked when the USMNT lost out on the Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League this year.

When asked if he felt vindication in seeing the USMNT’s recent results while he helped improve the Chicago Fire this season, the former USMNT defended his time as the USMNT head coach.

Berhalter on his USMNT tenure

In an interview with ESPN, Gregg Berhalter spoke about not feeling vindication seeing the USMNT failing to win trophies this year while helping the Chicago Fire reach heights that the club has not reached for nearly a decade.

Berhalter said, "It's always a combination of forces. When you look at my record, you know, I think I'm the winningest coach of all time in U.S. soccer history. So, it's not like I did a poor job."

The Chicago Fire head coach states that he did not take it personally when U.S. Soccer decided to part ways with him last year, and wanted to focus on a new team like the Chicago Fire in the MLS.

Berhalter said, "It was a young team and we qualified [for the 2022 World Cup], we did well at the World Cup, and we were building. But I also understand decisions, and I never took it personally. I never needed vindication. For me, it's about wherever I go, trying to be successful and doing my best."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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