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Berhalter named Hammarby manager

Gregg Berhalter (ISIPhotos.com)

The opportunity for American managers in Europe haven't been easy to come by, but a young American is ready to blaze a trail after only recently retiring as a player.

Former U.S. national team defender Gregg Berhalter has been named the new manager of Swedish club Hammarby, the club announced on Monday. The hiring is a historic one in American soccer as Berhalter becomes the first American-born former U.S. national team player to be hired as a manager of a team in Europe.

Berhalter, 38, recently retired as a member of the MLS Cup-winning Los Angeles Galaxy, where he served as a player-coach. Berhalter enjoyed a lengthy playing career in Europe that saw him enjoy stints in the Netherlands and Germany.

A member of the U.S. World Cup teams in 2002 and 2006, Berhalter is best remembered for the goal-bound shot he put on goal that was infamously blocked off the line by German midfielder Torsten Frings in the United States' 1-0 loss to Germany in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals.

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  1. I’m a hammarby fan and I believe in Gregg due to the fact that he is a very confident guy(From what I’ve seen, might just be wrong) with demands, and i think thats just what the players needs. Hopefully the players begging to work for each others and as one! Thats all u need to make it in superettan rly(the 2nd league in Sweden) it’s not much about tacs there.

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  2. He’s a first time head coach in country he’s never spent significant time in. Remember that despite the EU, its countries retain significant differnces, as the EU debt crisis should be reminding everyone, though it’s true that Denmark and Sweden have more in common than Sweden and, say, Greece. Either one of those conditions (new coach, new country) could pose problems for him.

    Maybe he does fine, but it’s still a bit surprising. If anything, it’s a credit to Gregg for something they see in him, and yes, a credit to US soccer that a top team in a 2nd or 3rd tier league would hand him the reins with little significant coaching experience.

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