Tag: U.S. soccer

Crocker: Kilgore to coach USWNT in October, U.S. Soccer aiming for December permanent hire

The USWNT should be rolling into 2024 with a new, permanent head coach

U.S. Soccer’s very busy 2023 is showing no signs of slowing down, with a U.S. women’s national team head coach now the federation’s top priority.

That hunt is ongoing, with U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker saying that interim head coach Twila Kilgore — who on Tuesday named her first squad ahead of a pair of upcoming friendlies against South Africa — would remain in her post for October’s set of contests against Colombia.

Speaking on TNT’s post-game show following the U.S. men’s national team’s 4-0 thumping of Oman, Crocker said that he’d be right back at work pursuing Vlatko Andonovski’s successor on Wednesday.

“I fly out tomorrow morning back to Chicago at 6 a.m., and we’re straight back into the search for the women’s head coach’s role,” said Crocker. “My job at the moment is split 50/50. So obviously, the men’s head coach hire was really important, and a key part of the job to start with, and now obviously, my focus turns to the to the women’s [team] and the women’s head coach search, and obviously helping Twila and the staff prepare for their event, which is just around the corner in Cincinnati.”

U.S. Soccer targets December USWNT hire

Asked for a timeline on U.S. Soccer’s pursuit of a coach, Crocker revealed that Kilgore and the current USWNT staff would be in place for October’s matches against Colombia in Utah and San Diego.

“Twila will pick up the September and the October camps with the staff,” said Crocker. “And you know, in an ideal world, we’d like to be in a position for the December camp to have the new head coach in place.”

That is a quicker turnaround than the men’s coaching hire, after the post-World Cup evaluation process was massively complicated by a controversy surrounding head coach Gregg Berhalter, midfielder Gio Reyna, and his parents. The USMNT were eliminated in Qatar on December 3, and did not end up announcing Berhalter’s return until mid-June.

The USWNT situation is different: the team’s performance was well below expectations (unlike the USMNT), and Andonovski unsurprisingly stepped down from the job shortly after the tournament.

Another major difference: The 2024 Olympics kick off in just 10 months, giving the USWNT another major tournament to grapple with in short order. With U.S. Soccer looking to bounce back after a World Cup stumble, it’s no surprise to see some urgency in the hiring process.

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U.S. Soccer sells former Chicago headquarters for $3.9 million

U.S. Soccer House will be converted back to residential usage by its new owners

U.S. Soccer has sold two adjacent Chicago mansions that served as its longtime headquarters for $3.9 million, according to the Chicago Tribune.

That figure is slightly down from the asking price of $4.2 million that the federation set in January, when it listed the Kimball house and the Coleman-Ames house in Chicago’s Prairie Avenue Historical District.

Together, the two mansions were known as U.S. Soccer House.

The Chicago Tribune said that the mansions’ new owners planned to convert the buildings back to residential usage.

The 19th-century mansions in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood served as U.S. Soccer’s headquarters from December 1991 to last year, when the federation moved its headquarters two miles north to an office building in the East Loop, located at 303 E. Wacker Drive.

Prior to 1991, U.S. Soccer was based in Colorado Springs. Though the federation has relocated to downtown Chicago, it could soon be on the move once again.

A report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month said that Atlanta had emerged as the front-runner to serve as U.S. Soccer’s new headquarters and official training center. Cary, North Carolina is reportedly also in the mix.

The new HQ would not only contain the federation’s offices, but 14 fields to serve as the home base for all of U.S. Soccer’s men’s, women’s, youth, and extended national teams.

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USWNT GM Kate Markgraf steps down as U.S. Soccer shake-up continues

The changes at U.S. Soccer just keep coming

The big changes with the U.S. women’s national team just keep coming.

USWNT general manager Kate Markgraf has stepped down from her post, with U.S. Soccer releasing a statement on Friday confirming an earlier report from Equalizer Soccer.

“After four years, Kate Markgraf has decided not to continue as the U.S. Women’s National Team General Manager with U.S. Soccer,” read U.S. Soccer’s official announcement. “She will provide support through the end of the month to assist in the transition.”

Markgraf was the first-ever GM for the USWNT program, taking over a newly-created role in August 2019 and overseeing both the senior team as well as youth national team programs.

“It has been an incredible honor to work with the players, coaches and staff at U.S. Soccer on the mission of keeping our program at the top of the women’s game,” said Markgraf. “I am proud of the foundation we have built, and even more proud of the character and commitment demonstrated by our players as they represent the United States on and off the field. I look forward to supporting all of our programs and have every confidence that we will maintain our standards of excellence moving forward.”

During her playing career, Markgraf was one of the “99ers,” the squad that won the historic 1999 World Cup, and amassed 201 caps from 1998-2010.

“Kate has been an instrumental part of women’s national team both on and off the field for many years, and we’re very thankful for the tireless work she has given to the USWNT and all our youth national teams,” said U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker. “We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and look forward to building on the foundation she helped establish over the past several years.”

U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, who was Markgraf’s teammate on the USWNT for many years, added that the federation is “grateful to Kate for the tremendous work she has done in helping guide our women’s national team and the transformative work on our youth women’s national team programs. Her knowledge and experience have been incredibly valuable, and we are poised to build on that foundation as we look to the future.”

Murky future for USWNT

U.S. Soccer did not announce next steps in announcing the news, which is yet another major change in direction for the federation. Crocker only recently started as the full-time sporting director after Earnie Stewart’s departure in January. The end of Stewart’s tenure coincided with U.S. Soccer’s men’s general manager, Brian McBride, not being retained after his contract expired.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned from the job earlier this week after a disappointing World Cup ended in the team’s earliest-ever exit from the tournament. Twila Kilgore has been appointed interim head coach.

The changes come at what seems like an inflection point for the women’s side of U.S. Soccer. Two straight underwhelming showings at big tournaments more or less required major change, and the team finds itself phasing out veterans and bringing youngsters in for bigger roles. There is something of an age gap within the current squad as well, with only nine of the 23-player World Cup roster falling in the prime years between the ages of 24-29.

U.S. Soccer’s decision in terms of head coach likely only matters if the structures around that coach allow the program to thrive. That makes the next move at the top of the organizational chart — whether that is a new GM, or a more big-picture change in leadership structure — just as important as the more high-profile pursuit of a new manager.

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Broncos tweet support for U.S. Soccer team at Women’s World Cup

Broncos and Russell Wilson tweeted messages of support for USWNT stars Sophia Smith and Lindsay Horan, Colorado’s World Cup representatives.

The U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) will be in Australia and New Zealand over the next few weeks participating in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The USWNT roster features two players from Colorado — midfielder Lindsay Horan (Golden) and winger Sophia Smith (Windsor). Smith and Horan were responsible for all three goals the USA scored in their 3-0 win over Vietnam in their World Cup opener last week.

Smith scored twice and she later assisted Horan for the third goal. Horan, 29, is a World Cup veteran. Smith, 22, is making her World Cup debut this summer.

“Crazy how young and talented! ⚽️💪🏾” Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson tweeted after Smith’s impressive performance last week.

The Broncos also tweeted a message of support for Smith and Horan and the entire USWNT.

Mallory Swanson, a Peyton Manning fan, is also from Colorado (Highlands Ranch) and she is a star player on the USWNT but is sidelined for this year’s World Cup due to injury.

The Broncos hosted the USWNT for training sessions at their facility last summer.

Following their win last week, up next for the USWNT is an important group-stage showdown with the Netherlands at 7:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday, July 26. The USA-Netherlands game will be nationally televised on Fox.

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U.S. Soccer hires Onyewu for newly created VP of sporting role

The 40-year-old will report to sporting director Matt Crocker in the new role

U.S. Soccer has announced that Oguchi Onyewu has been hired as the federation’s vice president of sporting.

The newly created role will see the ex-U.S. men’s national team defender take on a host of responsibilities as he reports to new sporting director Matt Crocker.

In a news release, U.S. Soccer said Onyewu will work closely with Crocker “in supporting all sporting initiatives within the federation,” and “will also play a prominent role in managing relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and across the world, along with strengthening other stakeholder relationships.”

One of Onyewu’s first tasks will be assisting Crocker in the search for a new USMNT head coach.

“I am incredibly excited to take on this new challenge and work with Matt and the rest of the U.S. Soccer team to help shape the future of soccer in this country,” said Onyewu.

“As a former player, I understand firsthand the importance of investing in our youth and building a strong foundation for the future. I look forward to working with the men’s and women’s senior teams, youth national teams and extended national teams to help support and grow our talented pool of players and identify and develop the next generation.”

Onyewu earned 69 caps for the USMNT during his career, including appearances at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup. Since he’s retired, the 40-year-old became the sporting director for Orlando City B in 2018, and was then named secretary general of Belgian club Royal Excelsior Virton in 2020.

Onyewu was also on the Athletes Council of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors before stepping down this past week to take his new position.

“We are thrilled to welcome Oguchi Onyewu to our team at U.S. Soccer,” said Crocker. “His experience as a player and sports executive, coupled with his deep understanding of U.S. Soccer, Oguchi will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our sporting initiatives. We all look forward to working closely with him.”

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U.S. Soccer names Matt Crocker sporting director

The ex-Southampton and England executive will take over from Earnie Stewart

U.S, Soccer has announced the hiring of Matt Crocker as the federation’s new sporting director.

The 48-year-old will replace Earnie Stewart, who left U.S. Soccer in January to take a role with Dutch power PSV.

Crocker joins from Southampton, where he is currently serving as the club’s director of football operations. Prior to that, he spent seven years as the head of England’s youth international teams for both men and women.

“I’m really honored and excited to join U.S. Soccer as sporting director,” Crocker told reporters on Tuesday. “The immediate focus is supporting where I can the women’s World Cup team as they get ready for Australia and New Zealand… Leading the search for the next men’s coach is an opportunity I’m excited about.”

Per U.S. Soccer, Crocker will not start on a full-time basis until August 2 (which is to say, one day after the U.S. women’s national team finishes its group stage slate at the World Cup), but “will immediately begin the process of hiring the head coach of the Men’s National Team and supporting the U.S. Women’s National Team general manager Kate Markgraf and USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski.”

Crocker’s first, and arguably biggest task in his new job will be hiring a permanent U.S. men’s national team head coach ahead of a home World Cup in 2026.

Anthony Hudson is currently serving as an interim but has repeatedly said he’s not looking for the full-time gig. Gregg Berhalter is out of contract, but U.S. Soccer has said he remains a candidate after he was forthcoming in an investigation about the details of a 1992 domestic violence incident.

Who is Matt Crocker?

Crocker began his career at Cardiff, where he served as a development coach for the club’s youth teams, before taking on a role at Southampton overseeing the academy setup. During his first tenure with the Saints, players like Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse came through the club’s academy.

The Welshman bolstered his reputation during his time with the FA between 2013 and 2020, where he oversaw U-17 and U-20 World Cup wins for the men’s team in 2017 and helped establish an overall playing and coaching strategy called the “England DNA.”

He then returned to Southampton where he’s overseen the men’s, women’s and youth teams for the Saints. The women’s team has won back-to-back promotions over the last two seasons.

U.S. women’s national team general manager Kate Markgraf will report to Crocker, while it is still unclear if U.S. Soccer will hire a USMNT general manager to replace Brian McBride, who departed along with Stewart in January.

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Canada is *totally fine* it wasn’t invited to the USA-Mexico World Cup bid party

Really, it’s fine. Not like we are already hosting another World Cup together or anything

Canada Soccer would like everyone to know they are just fine with not being involved in the USA-Mexico joint bid for the 2027 women’s World Cup.

Really, it’s OK. No hard feelings or anything. It’s not like they ARE ALL GOING TO HOST A MEN’S WORLD CUP TOGETHER, or like Canada has any expertise they could’ve offered having JUST HOSTED A WOMEN’S WORLD CUP.

That was essentially the contents of a rather bitter statement released by Canada Soccer in the wake of Wednesday’s news that the U.S. and Mexico would submit a joint bid for the 2027 World Cup.

“We wish our close neighbours the best of luck in their bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Given we were recent hosts, Canada Soccer has not been part of these conversations and was never put in a position to decline a co-hosting opportunity,” the statement read. “If the US Soccer and the Mexican Federation bid is successful, it would be Mexico’s first time hosting a Women’s World Cup, and we are in full support.”

To further emphasize their point that hey, maybe you could’ve at least texted us or something, Canada Soccer then listed a whole host of milestones it reached when serving as host of the 2015 women’s World Cup.

“As hosts in 2015, the tournament generated $493.6 million surpassing the expected total of $337 million,” the statement said, noting the revenue-generating experience the USA-Mexico bid absolutely will not be able to utilize.

Hopefully this won’t make things too awkward as the three countries continue preparing for the World Cup they will actually host together: the 2026 men’s World Cup.

“We look forward to welcoming the soccer world once again to Canada, as we continue to prepare to co-host the 2026 men’s World Cup,” the statement concluded.

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USA and Mexico announce joint bid for 2027 women’s World Cup

The USA would be hosting the event for the third time, while Mexico has never hosted

U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced that they have informed FIFA of their intention to submit a bid to co-host the 2027 women’s World Cup.

If successful, the joint USA-Mexico event would take place just one year after the USA, Mexico and Canada co-host the 2026 men’s World Cup, and one year before Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympics.

For the USA, it would be the third time hosting the women’s World Cup after 1999 and 2003, while Mexico has never hosted the event.

“The United States has always been a global leader for the women’s game, and we would be honored to co-host the world’s premier event for women’s soccer along with Mexico,” said U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone.

“Hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup provides us an incredible opportunity to cap off two historic years of World Cup soccer in the CONCACAF region, helping us continue to grow the game among our confederation associations. A record six teams from CONCACAF will play in the Women’s World Cup this summer, and the United States and Mexico want to continue to push the envelope for the development of women’s soccer across the entire region.”

The joint U.S. Soccer-FMF announcement came on Wednesday, which was the deadline for FIFA member associations to submit their expressions of interest in hosting the 2027 World Cup. May 19 is the deadline to submit the Bidding Agreement, and the two federations said more information on the bid would be available then.

The host for the 2027 World Cup is expected to be named during the FIFA Congress on May 17, 2024.

There have so far been three other confirmed bids: a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as bids from South Africa and from Brazil.

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The U.S. Soccer president will continue to earn a $0 salary

An amendment to pay U.S. Soccer’s president an annual salary was voted down at this year’s AGM

U.S. Soccer president is a little closer to being a paid position, but it’s not there yet.

For the second straight year, an amendment that would pay the U.S. Soccer president $125,000 annually was rejected at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting.

Last year the amendment got 58.91% approval and this year that figure was 62.87% — just short of the two-thirds required to adopt it.

U.S. Soccer president — who since 2020 has been Cindy Parlow Cone — has always been an unpaid position, which is typical of nonprofits like U.S. Soccer.

But there is a growing movement to change that, given Parlow Cone works full-time hours in her role.

As Yahoo Sports documented, Parlow Cone’s assistant was asked last year to track her weekly hours.

The time study found that, from July through November, [Parlow Cone] spent weekly averages of 12-14 hours in scheduled meetings, 18-24 hours on unscheduled calls and nine hours reading emails or documents.

The opposition to paying the U.S. Soccer president appears to come mostly from those who run amateur soccer associations across the country. From Yahoo:

“I would suggest to you that our clubs, the tens of thousands of clubs who are led by presidents who are volunteers — [they] probably invest as much time in their work life as they do in their volunteer job,” Dave Guthrie, Indiana Soccer’s executive director, said at last year’s AGM.

“So I don’t know that that justification [for paying the USSF president] holds true unless we somehow want to pay all of our presidents of all of our member organizations. Which I don’t think we’re prepared to do.”

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U.S. Soccer investigation exonerates Berhalter, implicates Reynas

Some ugly behavior by Claudio and Danielle Reyna is documented in the independent report

U.S. Soccer has concluded an independent investigation into the dramatic affair involving Gregg Berhalter, his wife and the couple’s former close friends Claudio and Danielle Reyna.

The investigation, conducted by Alston & Bird, has concluded that Berhalter and his wife Rosalind were forthcoming about the details of a 1992 incident of domestic violence, and that the firm had no reason to believe any further incidents had taken place between the couple.

The couple eventually reconciled, married and had four children. They are still together today.

Of Berhalter, whose contract as U.S. men’s national team head coach expired at the end of 2022, U.S. Soccer said: “Given the investigators’ conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate to serve as head coach of the men’s national team.”

On the other hand, the report took a much dimmer view of the Reynas, saying the couple did not cooperate with the investigation and have been actively meddling into U.S. Soccer and the U.S. men’s national team for years — mostly looking to benefit their son Gio Reyna.

The Berhalter-Reyna affair exploded into public view in January, when Danielle Reyna admitted she had leaked information about the 1992 domestic violence incident to U.S. Soccer as retaliation for Berhalter not playing her son more at the World Cup, and then revealing details of the player’s poor attitude in Qatar that nearly led to him being sent home.

Amid the extremely public and messy affair, U.S. Soccer brought in Alston & Bird to conduct an independent investigation into the domestic violence incident, as well as any possible wrongdoing by the Reynas.

The investigation noted it did not consider the Reynas’ behavior to be blackmail, nor did it violate U.S. Soccer policies.

But the results were still stunning, painting an ugly picture of one of the most prominent families in American soccer history. Here are several incidents involving the Reynas documented within the report.