20230531 American States United

“I understand the responsibility of the job and am honored to have the opportunity to build upon the progress this group has made the last four years.”

- New interim-to-the-interim USMNT head coach B.J. Callaghan 🇺🇸 (41; Ventnor City, NJ), who was put in charge after previous interim manager Anthony Hudson stepped down for a “new opportunity,” head-coaching in the Middle East.

Callaghan, like Hudson, was an assistant coach under Gregg Berhalter at the 2022 World Cup. Looking further down the line — because why not — Berhalter’s third World Cup assistant coach, Luchi Gonzalez, is now the San Jose Earthquakes head coach. Meaning when Callaghan trades the U.S. job for a “new opportunity,” USSF might have to look outside of the GGG Coaching Tree to fill the void. Unless of course they appoint someone for The Big American Job before that happens.

Expat Eagle Transfer Talk:

With European leagues nearly done for the year, focus now shifts to the opening of the transfer window on July 1 (note: the Premier League opens on June 14 for deals between domestic clubs) meaning speculation has started in earnest for the club futures of our beloved Americans Abroad. Let’s dive in.

The latest on Christian Pulisic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Hershey, PA) is Juventus lead the race to pry Captain America from Chelsea. Which could see him link up with Weston McKennie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Little Elm, TX) in Italy, who likely can’t say farewell to the British tabloids quickly enough.

Brenden Aaronson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (22; Medford, NJ) is expected to activate his relegation release clause and explore a Leeds departure this summer. There are also questions surrounding hard-tackling Tyler Adams’ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Wappingers Falls, NY) future in Yorkshire now that they’re headed to the Championship. Would be a serious heat map hit should the duo depart.

Elsewhere in England, Bryan Reynolds 🇮🇹 (21; Fort Worth, TX) has been linked to a move from AS Roma to West Ham. Man City has set a $12 million asking price for Zack Steffen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (28; Downington, PA). And the Premier League is reportedly a likely landing spot for Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah 🇪🇸 (20; London, ENG).

According to ultimate transfer authority Fabrizio Romano, a.k.a. “World Soccer Woj,” Ricardo Pepi 🇳🇱 (20; El Paso, TX) is done with Augsburg, and is most likely going to stay in the Netherlands, with either Dutch champions Feyenoord or PSV. Elsewhere on the continent, Tim Weah 🇫🇷 (23; Rosedale, NY) continues to draw Olympique Marseille’s interest. Sergiño Dest 🇮🇹 (22; Almere, NED) has been linked to a move to Champions League newbies Union Berlin.

For the latest on everything happening this transfer window, subscribe to the Men in Blazers Media Network’s “Here We Go Podcast with Fabrizio Romano.” If you want to keep up with the comings and goings of global football THIS PODCAST is your place. Smash that subscribe. And listen to our latest MiB x Here We Go crossover with Fab and Rog that was just released this morning. LISTEN HERE

And on the U.S. Boss front, Jesse Marsch is reportedly a candidate to replace current manager Philippe Clement at AS Monaco. Though one has to wonder if this is a real move, or a planted rumor designed to hurry U.S. Soccer along in awarding The Big Job? 🤔

Gio Reyna’s Impressive, Frustrating Season:

It hasn’t been the easiest season for Gio Reyna 🇩🇪. From the drama of the World Cup, to injury problems and sporadic playing time with Borussia Dortmund, life must have felt like a Mountain Goats song for much of ‘22-23 for Bedford, N.Y.’s Finest.

Unfortunately, things weren’t much different on the final day of the Bundesliga season for Gio. Dortmund needed a win to hold off Bayern for their first German title in 11 years, but could only manage a draw against mid-table Mainz. Yet Reyna was a standout performer in the match, notching two assists despite only coming on in the 63rd minute.

Reyna was in tears on the pitch after the final whistle, and it was impossible to feel anything but agony for the 20-year-old. With seven goals and two assists in 625 minutes of action, he finished the season behind only Erling Haaland and Neymar in goals plus assists per 90 minutes among players who played at least 500 minutes in Europe’s Top Five Leagues. Yet he still found playing time extremely difficult to come by with BVB this season.

Reyna sent a message of regret and gratitude to the Dortmund fans in the aftermath of their heartbreaking finish. “Remember that setbacks are a part of life, and even though it may be tough right now, it’s important to keep pushing forward and learn from the experience.” Wise words that it feels Gio’s been forced to live by over the last 12 months. Here’s to calmer, brighter days ahead for one of America’s brightest young talents.

Horvath a Happy Hatter:

Saturday capped a terrific season for goalkeeper Ethan Horvath 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. The 27-year-old from Highlands Ranch, Colo. helped lead Luton Town to Premier League promotion with a shootout win over Coventry City in the Championship Promotion Playoff Final at Wembley. For the season, Horvath started 44 of 46 league matches for the Hatters, racking up 20 clean sheets and allowing just 37 goals. The Nottingham Forest loanee was also part of the 2022 World Cup squad for the U.S., although he did not make any appearances in the tournament.

Next for Horvath is to determine where he’ll be playing in ‘23-24. He played for Luton on loan from Nottingham Forest, so it remains to be seen if he’ll return to his parent club or stay with the Premier League first-timers. From what was said at the Hatters’ victory parade, it sounds like he wants to remain with the newly promoted side. Premier League football should be in his future either way. 🙌

Courage Cap Up for the Summer ☀️🧢

News and Notes:

• The USYNT are through to the quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup in Argentina. Gaga Slonina 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (19; Addison, IL) has yet to allow a goal in four matches, and Rokas Pukštas 🇭🇷 (18; Stillwater, OK) scored a goal shortly after being released by Hajduk Split for the tournament. Kevin Paredes 🇩🇪 (20; South Riding, VA) also joined the team after Wolfsburg’s Bundesliga season concluded.

• Emmanuel Sabbi 🇩🇰 had a brace (WATCH 1ST | 2ND) for Odense in their 2-1 win over Horsens on Friday. The 25-year-old Ohioan now has five goals in his last five matches, and Odense can clinch a Europa Conference League spot out of Denmark with a final match win over Midtjylland on Saturday.

• Hair Hero Mix Diskerud 🇨🇾 (32; Oslo, NOR) was a starter for Omonia Nicosia in their Cyprus Cup final victory over AEL Limassol on Thursday. 🙌🏆

• Julian Green 🇩🇪 (27; Tampa, FL) scored an absolute banger in Greuther Fürth’s final match of the season (WATCH), giving him seven goals total for 2022-23.

• Johnny Cardoso 🇧🇷 (21; Denville, NJ) had a goal for Brazilian side Internacional (WATCH) in their 2-0 win over Bahia on Sunday, meaning he’s scored in back-to-back league matches.

• Ein Prosit 🍻 to Marc Heider (37; Sacramento, CA) and VfL Osnabrüch, who scored twice in added time to beat Borussia Dortmund II, 2-1, and earn promotion to 2. Bundesliga. Heider captains Osnabrück, who are coached by Tobias Schweinsteiger, Bastian's older brother.

• U.S. Soccer has announced friendlies for the USMNT with Germany and Ghana in October. Get Portugal on board and it’s 2014 World Cup Group of Death all over again. 💀

Parting Shots:

Congrats are in order for 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and American midfielder Lennard Maloney 🇩🇪 (23; Berlin, GER), who earned promotion to the Bundesliga next season thanks to a remarkable final-day comeback that saw Heidenheim score twice in stoppage time to send 1846 up, and break confused Hamburger SV hearts. Maloney, a former Borussia Dortmund player who has an American father and a German mother, started 32 of 34 matches as a defensive midfielder for Heidenheim, and could insert himself into U.S. senior team consideration with a strong showing in the German top flight next season.

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