Report: US Soccer Can Pay Men's Coach Much More Than Women's

07/02/2024 11:29 AM

The United States men's national soccer team is out of Copa America after the group stage, and many are calling for head coach Gregg Berhalter to lose his job.

Some top names, like former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, have been floated for the job, but luring a top coach may have been difficult under the current pay structure.

US Soccer has made great strides to ensure that the women's team and men's team earn equal compensation, but that consideration does not extend to the head coaching search.

According to FOX Sports' Doug McIntyre, US Soccer would not need to raise women's head coach Emma Hayes' salary in order to match what Berhalter or any other men's coach would make.

In theory, this opens the door for several possibilities. US Soccer wouldn't be forced to search for coaches who would command a similar salary to Hayes, and she could be evaluated on her own merit.

Hayes entered the international ranks after years as a successful club manager. She helped lead Chelsea to seven Women's Super League titles and an appearance in the Champions League finals in her tenure as head coach.

She will oversee her first tournament with the national team at the Olympics in a few weeks after recently announcing the roster.

US Soccer hasn't parted ways with Berhalter after the Copa America situation, but fans have called for his dismissal for several months. Following a string of disappointing results and little growth to show, Berhalter's days as coach could be numbered.

We now know that US Soccer can pay its next coach as much as it would like. We'll see if that financial freedom allows the team to add one of the game's top managers, or if they decide to stick with Berhalter once again.

Related: Legendary U.S. Men's Soccer Player Calls For Gregg Berhalter's Firing