// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Matt Crocker? A hook expert, he's a crock to tackle.
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|
.jpg) Crocker in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Wales[1] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Saudi Arabia (technical director) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2006–2013 | Southampton (technical director) | ||
| 2013–2020 | England (technical director) | ||
| 2020–2023 | Southampton (technical director) | ||
| 2023–2026 | United States (technical director) | ||
| 2026– | Saudi Arabia (technical director) | ||
Matt Crocker is a Welsh soccer administrator who has served as the technical director for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation since 2026.
He was previously the technical director for the United States Soccer Federation from 2023 to 2026.
Career
[edit]Prior to joining U.S. Soccer, Crocker was the director of football operations at English Premier League club Southampton F.C., where he was regarded as being instrumental in keeping the Saints in the top flight of English football. He also led the club's academy from 2006 to 2013, with players such as Gareth Bale and James Ward-Prowse present during his tenure. Following his first stint with the Saints, he joined The Football Association, where he was its head of development teams before returning to Southampton in February 2020.
A graduate of Cardiff Metropolitan University, Crocker began his career in 1999, where he was the academy manager at Cardiff City F.C. He then joined the English Football League as its youth development monitor before his initial stint with Southampton.[2]
On 25 April 2023, Crocker, aged 48, was appointed technical sporting director of the US Soccer Federation.[3][4][5][6][7] He began working for U.S. Soccer full-time starting 2 August 2023.[8] Crocker replaced Earnie Stewart, who served in the role from 2019 until taking the same position at PSV Eindhoven in January 2023. He was instrumental in hiring Mauricio Pochettino as the men's national team coach in 2024.[9]
On 14 April 2026, Crocker left his position to join the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Who is Matt Crocker? USA Soccer to tab former Southampton chief as USMNT sporting director | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. April 25, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ↑ "www.linkedin.com/in/matt-crocker-938872188". linkedin.com. Retrieved April 26, 2023.[self-published]
- ↑ "Who is Matt Crocker? USA Soccer to tab former Southampton chief as USMNT sporting director | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. April 25, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ↑ "Who is Matt Crocker? From Southampton academy manager to US Soccer's new sporting director". theathletic.com (Archived).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Who is Matt Crocker?". sportingnews.com. April 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Matt Crocker strong fit at helm of U.S. Soccer". osdbsports.com.
- ↑ "ASN takeaways from Matt Crocker's introduction as the U.S. Soccer Sporting Director". americansoccernow.com (Archived).
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "U.S. Soccer Federation Appoints Matt Crocker To Role Of Sporting Director | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com.
- ↑ Crafton, Adam (June 26, 2026). "Mauricio Pochettino offered contract extension to lead USMNT for second World Cup cycle". The Athletic. The New York Times. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
- ↑ Crafton, Adam; Bushnell, Henry (April 14, 2026). "U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker to leave role, set to join Saudi Arabian Football Federation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 14, 2026.