Gregg Berhalter brings hope and experience to Fire

Sometimes the obvious choice is the right one. The Fire’s decision to hire Gregg Berhalter qualifies.

Berhalter’s appointment is also a sign of positive change for the Fire.

Almost immediately after Georg Heitz announced in August that he was stepping down as sporting director at the end of the season, the Fire were linked to Berhalter. Though he was deposed as the coach of the U.S. men’s national team in July after a poor Copa America showing on home soil, Berhalter joining the Fire made too much sense.

Instead of repeating the experience of Heitz learning on the fly, the Fire needed someone with an MLS background who knows the ins and outs of the league. The job required someone familiar with the U.S. soccer landscape and someone whose name carries weight.

That’s what the Fire got in Berhalter, who was named their head coach and director of football Tuesday. Before his rocky stint with the national team, Berhalter served as the coach and sporting director of the Crew. During his five seasons with them, the Crew reached the playoffs four times and lost the 2015 MLS Cup.

The Fire haven’t sniffed that level of
success for 15 years.

‘‘After a thorough and detailed search that included a number of exceptional candidates, it became clear that Gregg Berhalter was the right choice to lead our sporting operations,’’ owner and chairman Joe Mansueto said in a statement. ‘‘His previous success in MLS, where he thrived in a dual role, and his experience leading the U.S. men’s national team over the last six years make him an ideal fit for our vision for the club moving forward.’’

Whether or not Berhalter lives up to what Mansueto said, how the Fire got their new top executive and coach is encouraging.

When Mansueto hired Heitz, he did it just before Christmas and two months after the 2019 season ended. That timing undermined an executive who needed much more time to build a roster. Heitz had no experience in U.S. soccer and came to the Fire in part because of the work of a search firm.

This hire is different.

The MLS regular season doesn’t end for another week, giving Berhalter time to formulate his plan and the Fire a chance to enter the offseason ready to deal. Berhalter will need time to map out a strategy and fill out the sporting staff, an important detail because of his dual role.

No search firms were involved in this move. It was Mansueto recognizing what the Fire needed and getting it done.

‘‘Chicago is an incredible city, built on communities of hard-working and passionate people who truly love soccer,’’ Berhalter said in a statement. ‘‘I look forward to working alongside our staff and players to transform the Fire into a world-class organization that all our fans and the city can be proud of and will support.’’

That Mansueto apparently learned from his previous mistakes should give Fire fans hope. Combined with the team’s willingness to spend, two open spots for designated players and a move into a new performance center, Fire fans can feel optimism for the first time in years.

And they don’t have to trick themselves into that emotion.