Harrison, Sep 9: Sebastian Berhalter sprinted across the midfield in a red, white and blue jersey with the U.S. national team crest on it as the Americans prepped for next year’s World Cup with a friendly against South Korea. Jonathan Klinsmann was on the bench.
“It’s incredible. I think just to think about that, it’s probably never happened, right, in the history of soccer where you have two national team coaches’- former national coaches’ sons in the same camp,” Gregg Berhalter said. “It’s kind of crazy.” The sons are trying to shine for the Americans.
Sebastian Berhalter, 24, debuted in a June 10 friendly against Switzerland while in his sixth season of Major League Soccer.
Jonathan Klinsmann, 28, got the callup during his second season with Cesena in Italy’s Serie B after three years as a backup with the LA Galaxy. He didn’t play in Saturday’s 2-0 loss but gets another chance against Japan on Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio.
“Do whatever I can to make the best impression and see what comes next,” he said. “I’m confident in making those impossible saves look a bit less impossible.” Jurgen Klinsmann, a star German striker, coached the U.S. from 2011-16 and led the team to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup. He was fired after a pair of losses in the first two qualifiers for the 2018 tournament.
Gregg Berhalter was a U.S. defender at the 2002 and ‘06 World Cups and coached the Americans from 2018-22, also taking them to the World Cup round of 16. He returned from mid-2023 to mid-2024, and then was let go after first-round elimination at the Copa America.
“When you grow up around the game and you’re around good people and you are around the game at a high level, it brings a lot,” said retired midfielder Michael Bradley, whose 151 national team appearances are the third-most in American history and whose father Bob coached the Americans from 2006-11.
The sons are vying for roster spots when the Americans will host soccer’s premier event next year. Current coach Mauricio Pochettino decided to shake up his player pool after a pair of losses in the CONCACAF Nations League in March.
“It was a big wake-up call,” Pochettino said Monday.Sebastian Berhalter has started seven of the last eight U.S. matches, advancing toward his father’s 44 caps. He was born in London in 2001, when his father was with Crystal Palace. (AP)
