Anthony Hudson named as US national team’s head coach for January internationals

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Former All Whites coach Anthony Hudson has been put in charge of the United States national team for their January internationals against Serbia and Colombia.

Hudson (41), who was an assistant coach with the US team at the FIFA World Cup, steps in as speculation mounts about the future of current head coach Gregg Berhalter whose contract expired at the end of December.

US Soccer have announced an independent investigation into allegations made against Berhalter about a violent incident in 1991 in which Berhalter admits to his wife Rosalind in the legs during an argument.

USC are also conducting a technical review of the national team’s programme, including its performance in Qatar.

While the review and investigation are underway, Hudson will serve as head coach for the national team’s training camp in Carson, California.

The US play Serbia on January 25 in Los Angeles, and face Colombia in Carson on January 28.

Main photo: Anthony Hudson … takes over national squad in interim role. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

Meanwhile, media reports say the revelations about Berhalter followed a blackmail plot.

Reports say former United States captain Claudio Reyna contacted US Soccer during the World Cup, threatening to reveal personal information about Berhalter. His approaches to the national body started after Reyna’s son, Gio Reyna, was told by Berhalter he would play a limited role in Qatar, according to ESPN.

Coach: ‘There are zero excuses for my actions’

Berhalter has since gone public with a lengthy explanation about the 1991 incident.

“During the World Cup, an individual contacted US Soccer, saying that they had information about me that would “take me down” — an apparent effort to leverage something very personal from long ago to bring about the end of my relationship with US Soccer,” his statement says.

The 49-year-old coach said he and his wife had been dating for four months when he kicked her during an argument outside a bar.

“There are zero excuses for my actions that night; it was a shameful moment and one that I regret to this day.

“At that time, I immediately apologized to Rosalind, but understandably, she wanted nothing to do with me. I told my parents, family, and friends what happened because I wanted to take full responsibility for my behaviour.

“Rosalind also informed her parents, family, and friends. While the authorities were never involved in this matter, I voluntarily sought out counselling to help learn, grow and improve — one of the most valuable decisions that ever made. To this day, that type of behaviour has never been repeated.”

Hudson was the head coach of the New Zealand national team from 2014-2017.

After a spell managing MLS side Colorado Rapids, he became the United States U-20 head coach in 2020 and then became an assistant to Berhalter with the full squad in 2021.

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