USSF 'set to hire Southampton's Matt Crocker as sporting director'
US Soccer Federation ‘is set to hire Southampton’s Matt Crocker as its sporting director’ after Earnie Stewart left… and finding a new head coach will be top of the agenda
- Former sporting director Earnie Stewart left his post for PSV on February 15
- Matt Crocker is widely expected to be heavily involved in hire of USMNT coach
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The United States Soccer Federation are finally set to appoint a new sporting director, according to a report.
Incumbent Southampton director of football operations Matt Crocker is expected to take over the vacant position once his duties with the Premier League club finish at this season’s end, per The Athletic.
Among his foremost duties will be to preside over the next coach of the national team. US Soccer has not made a permanent coach since Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired on December 31.
World Cup coach Berhalter is reportedly still in the frame to return to his former position. Currently, Anthony Hudson is the interim coach – and most recently led the USMNT to a 1-1 tie vs. Mexico in Glendale, AZ.
Under Crocker’s watch the Saints came close to an agreement with American and former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch to take over as coach following the firing of Nathan Jones.
Matt Crocker is reportedly set to become the US Soccer Federation’s new sporting director
Earnie Stewart stepped down as US Soccer sporting director to join PSV on February 15
Marsch impressed Saints brass but the move did not materialize. He has also been heavily linked to becoming next man in charge of the Stars and Stripes.
Crocker has been with Southampton for three seasons, presiding over the three programs at the club – men’s, women’s and the youth level.
Previous to his time on the south coast of England, he was Head of Development Teams – including the U15 to U20 programs, overseeing team operations and player/coach education.
Former sporting director Earnie Stewart departed his post on February 15. Stewart, the Netherlands-born former USA international, returned to his birth country to join PSV Eindhoven.
The US Soccer Federation was reportedly in favor of re-signing Berhalter before the Reyna family exposed a past indiscretion, igniting a feud which has since caused great uncertainty for the USMNT.
According to an in-depth Yahoo Sports report this month, US Soccer was ‘leaning strongly toward’ Berhalter’s reappointment after leading the Stars and Stripes to the Round of 16 in Qatar last December.
He was cleared and seemingly remains a candidate for the role after after the completion of an independent investigation into a 1992 domestic violence incident involving his then-girlfriend, Rosalind, though the report suggests Berhalter is now ‘a long shot to be rehired.’
Among his foremost duties will be to preside over the next coach of the national team. US Soccer has not made a permanent coach since Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired last year
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