Following the U.S. men's national team's disappointing Copa America elimination, calls to split with head coach Gregg Berhalter are reaching a fever pitch.
A pillar of American soccer has chosen to add his two cents following Monday's 1-0 loss to Uruguay, which sealed the group stage exit for the United States. Former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard believes he "could make a very compelling argument to Jürgen Klopp to take over" the USMNT, he wrote in a guest column for the Daily Mail.
The hiring of the former Liverpool manager would be a blockbuster move, but no changes have yet been made at the top.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, pressure is mounting on U.S. Soccer. Any new head coach would have a short runway for next year's tournament on home soil, but the team's disappointing track record under Berhalter relative to its talent has many yearning for new blood.
The question remains: Would a marquee name such as Klopp even consider the job? But a prominent voice in Howard advocating for the move can only help. Here's more on what the goalkeeper-turned-analyst had to say about hiring one of Europe's most prominent coaches.
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What did Tim Howard say about Jürgen Klopp?
Howard didn't ease into his suggestion of hiring Klopp in his column.
"If I was in charge of US Soccer right now, I'd be on my way to the airport" to find Klopp and present the idea to him, he wrote. Howard sees the need for fresh eyes as urgent, and the Copa America elimination was the final straw.
Howard also emphasized the appeal of the USMNT job, mentioning the money and working with"a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer — exactly like [Klopp's] Liverpool teams."
The "golden generation," as many call the group of players on the USMNT, is slowly losing its allure, according to Howard. With the Copa behind them, they won't get a signature win before the World Cup.
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker has promised a "comprehensive review" of the team following their tournament performance, and Howard believes coaching should be at the top of the priority list, he wrote.
In sum, the famed goalkeeper used his column to appeal to U.S. Soccer to send him along to Spain to find Klopp and present the idea, finishing his piece with this: "I’ll pack my swimming trunks and head to Spain. Just give me the call."
What team does Jürgen Klopp coach?
Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season after nearly a decade with the team. He led Liverpool to a Champions League crown and a Premier League title during his tenure, as well as a UEFA Super Cup and an FA Cup.
His overall record as Liverpool manager stood at 304-85-100, and he won 62% of his matchups. Despite his retirement from coaching for the Premier League club, Klopp made it clear that he still plans to work, though it is up in the air for what team.
Back in January, The Athletic reported Klopp would consider moving into international management only for Germany or the USMNT. So the prospect of him coming to the United States is not totally out of the picture.
MORE: Gregg Berhalter insists he's still the man to lead USMNT
Will USMNT fire Gregg Berhalter?
Conflicting reports have surfaced over the past week of Copa America play about Gregg Berhalter's job security. Former U.S. international Eric Wynalda, who serves as an analyst for Sirius XM and ESPN, reported days prior to the final group match that Berhalter would remain in charge regardless of the result against Uruguay.
However, Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that following conversations with former USMNT player and U.S. Soccer Athlete Council member Stu Holden as well as other "well-connected sources across the U.S. Soccer landscape," Crocker would indeed "make the move if results warranted it."
Regardless of the rumors, this year's Copa was a resounding disappointment for all USMNT fans and a further blow to the hopes of a successful World Cup in 2026, on home turf no less. A stunning loss to Panama and a narrow defeat of Bolivia built up to the Uruguay loss, and the team has very little to pad their "golden generation" label at the moment.
