Report: Ex-Premier League Legend Contacted As USMNT Coaching Candidate

As the United States men’s national soccer team continues its search for a permanent head coach, one candidate has apparently made it clear he’s interested in being considered for the position: former Arsenal legend and Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira.

Vieira has already had contact with the U.S. Soccer Federation, according to ESPN’s Julien Laurens, but so far talks have been preliminary.

The team is in need of a permanent manager after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired following the 2022 World Cup and was not renewed. Since then, the team has had a pair of interim head coaches: Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan.

Vieira, 46, helmed Crystal Palace from 2021 to ’23, and was sacked in March. He guided the team to a 12th-place Premier League finish in his first season, and was fired in his second campaign in the midst of what ended up being an 11th-place finish.

Prior to his coaching career, Vieira starred on the field as a midfielder, most notably with Arsenal, where he player for nine seasons. He also played in Serie A for A.C. Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan.

Berhalter was the subject of an investigation by U.S. Soccer into a domestic violence incident from 1992 involving his now-wife, which began following accusations from the parents of USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna. After the conclusion of the investigation, U.S. Soccer deemed that Berhalter was honest during the inquiry and remains a candidate for a contract renewal.