Sporting directors operate on a different timeline than coaches and players. While the latter face weekly pressure, the former are tasked with steering the long-term vision, ensuring the project stays on course. In club football, it often takes three transfer windows to see a sporting director's impact. In international soccer, the evaluation period spans entire tournament cycles.
Matt Crocker arrived at U.S. Soccer in April 2023 with a mandate to build a new era, openly stating that real change would take time. Ironically, he didn't give himself that time. U.S. Soccer announced this week that Crocker is stepping down as sporting director, reportedly to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia.
Given the long-term nature of the job, his immediate, tangible impact on the U.S. program is difficult to measure. His tenure was a mix of bold vision and pragmatic, sometimes controversial, decisions.
Crocker's first major task was the high-stakes search for a USMNT head coach following the team's Round of 16 exit at the 2022 World Cup. With Gregg Berhalter's contract expired, Crocker promised a "really comprehensive and evidence-based" process, considering candidates like Jesse Marsch and Patrick Vieira while interim coach B.J. Callaghan led the 2023 Gold Cup campaign.
After a prolonged search that tested fan patience, the data-driven process culminated in a surprising conclusion: reappointing Berhalter. The decision immediately raised eyebrows and proved contentious. The hoped-for resurgence and collective focus on "changing the way the world looks at American soccer" never fully materialized, ultimately leading to Berhalter's dismissal after a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2024 Copa América.
However, Crocker's legacy isn't defined by one hire. His most celebrated move was securing the signature of Emma Hayes, one of the world's most successful club coaches, to lead the USWNT. This was a statement signing aimed at restoring the women's program to its dominant peak. He also oversaw the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino for the U-23 Men's team, a strategic investment in developmental pathways.
Ultimately, Crocker's U.S. Soccer tenure was a story of ambitious long-term planning cut short. He laid foundational pieces—most notably with the Hayes appointment—but won't be around to see the final construction. His brief era highlights the complex challenge of building sustainable success in international soccer, where immediate results are demanded but true progress is measured in years, not months.