Matt Crocker's US Soccer Tenure: A Mixed Legacy of High-Profile Hires and Unfinished Plans
Matt Crocker's time as sporting director at US Soccer, which began in April 2023, was marked by ambitious promises to usher in a new era for American soccer, yet his tenure concluded abruptly with his departure for a similar role in Saudi Arabia. Sporting directors typically operate on a mid-to-long-term horizon, requiring multiple cycles to see tangible results, especially in international soccer. However, Crocker's exit after just over a year leaves his broader impact largely unassessed, with mixed outcomes from his key decisions.
High-Profile Coaching Appointments and Their Outcomes
Crocker's most notable moves involved hiring high-profile coaches for the national teams. His first major task was deciding the fate of Gregg Berhalter as head coach of the US Men's National Team (USMNT) after their round of 16 exit in the 2022 World Cup. After a prolonged and meticulous process described as "evidence-based," Crocker opted to rehire Berhalter, a decision that quickly drew criticism. The USMNT failed to regain momentum, culminating in Berhalter's dismissal following a group-stage exit at the home Copa América, effectively wasting 19 months of the 2026 World Cup cycle.
On the women's side, Crocker's appointment of Emma Hayes to lead the US Women's National Team (USWNT) proved far more successful. Hayes took over in 2023 after a transformative decade at Chelsea, inheriting a team at a low point following their worst World Cup performance. Under her leadership, the USWNT won gold at the 2024 Olympics and has since regained its status as a favorite for the upcoming Women's World Cup in Brazil. Hayes also pioneered the "WNT Way," a program tailored to women's soccer needs, marking a significant shift from past practices.
For the USMNT, Crocker hired Mauricio Pochettino, a big-name club coach with no prior international experience. This appointment faces an uncertain verdict until the 2026 World Cup, with recent friendlies showing struggles and a lack of momentum. Pochettino's adaptation to international soccer remains a work in progress, highlighting the challenges of transitioning from club to country.
Broader Initiatives and Financial Backing
Beyond coaching hires, Crocker launched the "US Way" initiative, aimed at elevating the United States to global soccer prominence through pathways, infrastructure, and player development. Efforts included talent ID camps to scout young players nationwide and improved coach education resources, addressing long-standing grievances from youth and non-professional levels about federation indifference. However, with Crocker's departure, these plans are incomplete, with a pathways strategy tracker showing only four of seven steps projected to conclude by 2028.
Financially, US Soccer provided substantial support under Crocker's leadership. Emma Hayes became the world's highest-paid female coach, while Mauricio Pochettino earned over $5 million for seven months of work, aided by billionaire donor Ken Griffin. A new national training center in Fayetteville, Georgia, costing nearly $250 million and supported by billionaire Arthur Blank, symbolizes this investment. Despite this, Crocker's move to Saudi Arabia, a nation pouring even more resources into soccer, underscores the competitive financial landscape.
Legacy and Departure
Crocker's tenure is a tale of contrasts: a successful hire in Hayes balanced by questionable decisions like Berhalter's rehiring and the untested Pochettino appointment. His broader vision for US Soccer shows early signs of progress but remains unfinished, leaving his legacy open to interpretation. As he exits for Saudi Arabia, the federation must navigate the continuation of his initiatives without his guidance, emphasizing the long-term nature of sporting director roles in soccer.
