The search for USMNT coaches is ongoing, confirms the CEO of US Soccer

The search for the next head coach of the US Soccer men’s national team has accelerated in recent weeks. Sporting director Matt Crocker has interviewed more than 10 candidates for the job, US Soccer CEO JT Batson confirmed to Emox News.

Fox Sports’ Doug McIntyre reported Tuesday that Crocker spoke to more than 10 candidates from multiple countries, including France, England, Germany, Spain and a Central American country.

Speaking to Emox News at a US Soccer Foundation symposium in Washington DC on Tuesday, Batson did not name any candidates but did confirm that Crocker “and his team” have “speak to people from all over the world.”

“Things are moving,” Batson said. “And I get daily updates from them on our status.”

The reason “things are moving” is because Crocker can now devote full-time to search and other US football matters. He initially had a contract with Southampton until July and was not officially due to join US Soccer until August 2. However, around the time Southampton’s season was coming to an end on 28 May, the club allowed Crocker to leave the club.

And so his official start date changed, a US soccer spokesman confirmed to Emox News. Crocker is currently still in England, the spokesman said, but is working remotely and could spend more time finding a coach.

Crocker visited US Soccer’s Chicago headquarters in May, about a month after receiving the job. After that visit, he said in a statement: “The plan is to conduct a series of interviews in June and narrow down the list of candidates. From there we will engage the finalists in another judging activity. Our aim is to attract our new candidates.” The manager will take up his post by the end of the summer, although it is possible that the club’s circumstances will affect the schedule.”

When asked on Tuesday whether The The timeline had changed, Batson didn’t give details but said things were “on the move”, adding in part: “I’m happy with the intent they’re going about this and the pace they’re moving at. “.”

When asked if the hiring could possibly happen before the start of the Women’s World Cup (July 20), Batson hesitated, then said, “Ah, possibly.”

Batson did not provide details on who exactly was involved in the interview process besides Crocker and the new vice president for sport, Oguchi Onyewu. “There’s a range of people involved in the interviewing process to make sure we have different experiences and backgrounds driving this,” he said.

All parties remained silent about the identity of the candidates. Those frequently discussed by the public, fans and media include Jesse Marsch, Steve Cherundolo and Gregg Berhalter.

Marsch reportedly held talks with two then-Premier League clubs, Leicester and Southampton, in the weeks and months following his sacking from Leeds United in February but failed to reach an agreement with either. He was also recently linked with the vacancy at Scottish club Celtic but remains a free agent.

Cherundolo, a former USMNT player who guided LAFC to the MLS Cup title last year, said Tuesday that reports linking him to the USMNT job are “entirely fabricated and false. That’s all I can say about it. I am committed to LAFC and plan to stay here for a long time.”

Berhalter coached the team from 2018 to 2022, but his contract expired on December 31 as investigations into a domestic violence incident in 1992 were now closed. US Soccer has consistently stated that he remains a candidate for the job and several players have backed his candidacy, but it’s unclear how realistic that possibility is.

While Berhalter was in limbo, US Soccer enlisted Anthony Hudson, Berhalter’s top assistant, to temporarily manage the team. In late May, Hudson left the club to take a club job, leaving another Berhalter assistant, BJ Callaghan, as the next interim. Callaghan will coach the team in the CONCACAF Nations League on Thursday and Sunday.