The general manager positions for both the U.S. men’s and women’s national team are likely no more.
In an interview with reporters on Sunday, U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker confirmed that the positions, which have both become vacant in 2023, would probably not be filled.
“I’m just still in the process of finalizing the high-level supporting structure, but if you look at the GM role, my thinking is one of the big priorities for me is to make sure the senior men’s coach and the senior women’s coach report into the sporting director,” Crocker said in quotes published by ESPN. “I was pretty insistent on that. I feel like I’ll be the one that will be recruiting those coaches.
“I’ll be the one that will be making sure they’ve got robust development plans sitting with them or outlying the strategy. So it’s my job to hold those guys accountable for what has been agreed.”
Earnie Stewart became the first USMNT general manager when he was hired in 2018. One year later, he was promoted to sporting director and replaced by Brian McBride. Stewart and McBride both departed U.S. Soccer this January.
On the women’s side, Kate Markgraf — the only person to fill the USWNT general manager role — stepped down last month after she was hired in 2019.
The women’s GM position also included overseeing youth national teams, with those responsibilities set to be “split into other roles,” according to Crocker.
Crocker’s decision streamlines the U.S. Soccer organization chart. The two general manager positions were in charge of overseeing their respective senior national teams and their operations, including making head coaching decisions.
Those decisions will now fall to Crocker, who was brought on this April to replace Stewart.
Crocker’s role oversees the entire U.S. Soccer sporting department, which includes senior and youth national teams for both men and women, as well as extended national teams.
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