Storylines is here, and this time, it’s not about the league standings. We made a whole series for that so we could get back to telling some of the fun side stories that come with each of our last four games. You’re allowed to get excited, my friends; this is the return of Storylines as you know and love it.
When it comes to the Chicago Fire this season, one story stands head and shoulders above the rest: The story of Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. Triple G, as he’s known to many fans, took over the soccer operations in Chicago in October of 2024, with his tenure set to start at the beginning of the 2025 season. Since joining, he’s improved upon the base he started with, but before we get into the details of the season he’s had thus far, let’s take a look at how he got where he is in the first place.
College to Pro
Before finding a lasting home on the sideline, Berhalter made a name for himself on the field. Three seasons playing at the University of North Carolina earned him a professional contract with Dutch club Zwolle in 1994, before making a move to the more well-known Sparta Rotterdam in 1996. Primarily a defender, Berhalter’s steady presence at center back earned him a call-up to the USMNT shortly after his move to Europe. He would go on to earn 44 appearances for his national team, making two World Cup rosters along the way.
The Englewood, New Jersey, native spent much of his club career kicking around Europe, with stops in the Netherlands, Germany, and even the English Premier League, where he suited up for Crystal Palace from 2001 to 2002. He ended his nearly two-decade career with a three-season stint with the LA Galaxy, winning two Supporters’ Shields and an MLS Cup before he hung up his boots.
Cleats to Clipboards
Behralter didn’t take a break between playing and coaching, jumping right into his second career in 2011 by taking the manager role at Swedish club Hammarby. This made him the first American-born manager to ever take over a team in Europe, paving the way for future coaches like Bob Bradley, Jesse Marsch, and Pellegrino Matarazzo, all of whom have managed across the German Bundesliga, English Premier League, and other leagues across the continent.
Despite a marked improvement in year one, Berhalter was let go due to stylistic differences in his second season at Hammarby, prompting him to return to American shores once more. In my totally unbiased eyes, this is where he really made his name, as he undertook both the sporting director and head coaching roles for the Columbus Crew in 2013. With the Crew, Berhalter qualified for four out of a possible five postseasons, reaching MLS Cup in 2015 only to fall short at the final hurdle.
His Crew side transformed during his tenure, developing a clear style of play that made them into one of the league’s most dangerous sides. Minnesota United’s own Wil Trapp was a part of that system, which combined dynamic wingback play with smart defensive midfield transitions to create overloads out wide and feed the waiting striker in the middle. It was a style that helped define my own understanding of the game and certainly made an impact on the league while it was in use in Columbus.
Now, we’ve finally made it to the part that most people know Triple G for: the Jordan-wearing, bounce-pass-making days spent in charge of the USMNT. From 2018 to 2024, Berhalter led the national team that he’d once played for. He was the man trusted with helping the team recover from the failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and he did so through aggressive recruitment of talented dual-nationals (Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, etc.), winning both the Nations League and the Gold Cup, and becoming the first American to participate in the World Cup as both a player and a coach when he manned the sideline in 2022.
His time with the national team helped to not only steady the ship, but move it forward all the while. His imprint is all over the current roster, and the impact of his approach to developing the American soccer talent pool will be on full display when the lads line up for the World Cup on home soil next summer. Whether you loved him or hated him as the boss of the USMNT, you’ve got to recognize and respect the good work he did across his nearly six years in charge.
Igniting the Fire
That brings us back to now, where Berhalter is currently trying to replicate his Columbus success in Chicago. Since taking over, he’s not only bolstered the roster — making more than 30 moves in and out of the club since taking over — he’s improved their outlook big time.
Last season, the Fire were saved from the Wooden Spoon only by San Jose’s absolutely abysmal performance, finishing bottom of the Eastern Conference on just 30 points from 34 games. Their leading goal scorer (Hugo Cuypers) ended the season with just 10 goals, and only one other player even cracked double-digit goal contributions across the entire season.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Fire have already tallied 12 more points than last season — with five games to spare. They’re fighting with the Red Bulls for the final Wild Card spot, thanks in large part to the fantastic debut season from Philip Zinckernagel, whose 13 goals and 13 assists have made him one of the league’s most well-rounded, efficient attacking players.
Regardless of how this season ends up for Chicago, it’s already been a massive improvement from 2024. While the players and staff at the club deserve plaudits for this step in the right direction, I personally feel that Triple G deserves the most praise, and while I hope he loses this weekend, it’s hard for me to wish this guy anything but the best in the seasons to come — as long as he isn’t playing the Loons.
