OAKLAND, Calif. — Former U.S. national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber was hired Monday as coach of the Oakland Roots of the United Soccer League’s second-tier Championship.

Coach Gavin Glinton was fired earlier Monday after the team opened its league schedule with three wins, seven losses, and one tie. The Roots also lost their opening match in the U.S. Open Cup to Tacoma in the third round.

The 40-year-old Feilhaber scored two goals in 44 international appearances from 2007 to 2017 and was part of the American team at the 2010 World Cup, appearing in three matches as a substitute.

His tiebreaking goal on a 22-yard volley broke a 73rd-minute tie and lifted the U.S. over Mexico 2-1 in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

Born in Brazil and a graduate of UCLA, Feilhaber played for Hamburg, Derby, Aarhus, New England, Kansas City, and Los Angeles FC during a club career spanning from 2006 to 2019.

Since retiring as a player, he has served as an assistant coach at UCLA, coached the Kansas City under-17 team, and been the head coach of Sporting KC II in the third-tier MLS Next Pro.

Feilhaber came out of retirement to play for the fourth-tier Omaha Menace when they defeated Sporting KC II 2-1 in the first round of the Open Cup on March 19. He also converted a penalty kick in a 2-1 loss to Union Omaha in the second round on April 2.

Balleagues

Bal Leagues is a passionate team of sports journalists, analysts, and sports fans who are dedicated to delivering an accurate, insightful, and timely coverage of the global game. From breaking news and in-depth previews to head-to-head stats, predictions, and transfer stories.

We bring the pulse of football, basketball, American football, and other major sports straight to your screen. We are here to provide content you can trust, written by people who live and breathe the game.