CARSON, Calif. – Former LA Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter was removed from his position as the head coach at Swedish club Hammarby on Wednesday.

Berhalter, who was appointed in December of 2011, led the Superettan (second division) club to a fourth place finish last year just seven points out of the promotion playoffs to the Allsvenskan (first division). This season, Hammarby find themselves currently in eighth place and nine points out of a spot in the promotion playoffs. When he was appointed in 2011, Berhalter, made history as he became the first American coach to ever coach a European team.

Following LA training on Wednesday, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena offered a few words of encouragement for Berhalter.

“Gregg is a good young coach and I think that he’s going to be an outstanding coach,” said Arena. “I don’t know any of the facts that led to that decision, but we know him as a good coach, and we’re hopeful that we can see him again in the near future.”