‘A full circle’: Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter going back to where it all began

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Sebastian Berhalter is going home again, but this time, it’s just to visit.

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The 20-year-old midfielder went to bed as a member of the Columbus Crew on Feb. 3, and woke up as a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps the next day.

The Canadian MLS club had sent the Crew US$50,000 in general allocation money for the midfielder, who packed his bags and hopped on a plane to join his new club for the pre-season in San Diego. After three weeks of training, he’s set for his first regular-season game — right back in Ohio.

“It happened almost overnight. It was late at night, and then the next morning, it was official,” he said. “Pretty surreal. Honestly, to have it come almost full circle like that… it’s pretty crazy.”

NEXT GAME

saturday

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Columbus Crew

12:30 p.m. PT, Lower.com Field. TV: TSN. Radio: AM730

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Berhalter moved to Columbus as a 12-year-old when his dad Gregg — yes, that’s US national team coach Gregg Berhalter — took over the Crew’s operations as coach and general manager. The younger Berhalter played in the Crew academy from U-13 until signing a first-team contract as an 18-year-old in 2020.

He made nine appearances including four starts with the Crew during their MLS Championship run in 2020, and spent last season on loan with Austin FC.

Saturday’s game will be the baptism of the newly constructed Lower.com Field, which replaced the historic Mapfre Stadium.

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“I grew up playing in the old stadium, and they now have a new one. I haven’t even played in it; I haven’t seen it yet,” said Berhalter. “It’ll be fun. I’m excited to play in Columbus, it (potentially) would be my first start in Columbus (for the Caps), too, which would be something special.”

The Crew’s midfield, when healthy, is deeper than Lake Baikal. Eight players are pushing for minutes in two spots in Caleb Clarke’s system, with Columbus favoring Aidan Morris and Sean Zawadzki as the Homegrown signings.

https://www.massivereport.com/2022/2/22/22945644/2022-crew-season-preview-midfielders-artur-darlington-nagbe-marlon-hairston

It lead to Berhalter’s loan spell in Austin, where he played for his dad’s former assistant in Columbus, Josh Wolff. Where he could be relatively anonymous in Columbus, Berhalter was exposed to a different level of attention with Los Verdes, making five starts in 18 appearances.

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“Austin loves that team. It was awesome, man,” he said. “Everywhere you go, they know you and they really love you. It was cool to be apart of that and something new. Not a lot of guys get to experience especially nowadays, like a brand new club. That doesn’t happen a lot. So that was, it was a nice experience … and to learn under Josh and the coaching staff.

“My first year (with the Crew), I learned a lot and I did get to play in the championship team, which was pretty cool. And then I think second year, it was better to meet-up to find a different role.

“(The trade) worked out for the best. I think I have a great relationship with Caleb … and everyone there, and I think we decided that this would work out for everyone.”

Berhalter is a natural six with a high-intensity defensive presence, and a different profile than the two other players he’ll be battling for minutes against, in Michael Baldisimo and Leo Owusu, two players with profiles that differ from him and each other. He can also play as a No. 8, another congested spot on the Whitecaps’ roster, with Ryan Gauld, Pedro Vite, Russell Teibert and Caio Alexandre.

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While they’re all battling in training to get their noses in front of the other, that hasn’t translated into any off-field acrimony.

“You know your role … You’re accountable, you’re held accountable, and you can hold other people accountable too because (Sartini) makes it really clear,” said Berhalter. “It’s good to have structure and it only helps me thrive.

“(Overall), it’s been great. The guys… it’s a really tight-knit group. It’s something that I haven’t experienced before… Every single one of the guys gets along with each other. Coming in, it took for a couple days, maybe a week, and then once you get in there, it’s like you’re brothers. It’s a really good group.”

NOTES: Brian White’s foot was stepped on in training Tuesday, and he’s listed as day-to-day, although Sartini indicated Wednesday that he was confident the striker would be available … There was no definitive answer on the future of striker Tos Ricketts with roster compliance looming Feb. 25, though he will be with the club regardless, having already agreed to a front-office position once his playing days are done … Sartini said that none of this year’s draftees nor academy players would be starting the season with the first team, and would suit-up for the MLS Next Pro squad … In the Crew’s penultimate pre-season game against Charlotte, a full-squad brawl nearly broke out when former Whitecap Yordy Reyna scythed down Columbus midfielder Alex Matan, causing a lot of handbags to be exchanged.

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