USMNT news: Crocker appointed, Weah to Marseille, Steffen vs Horvath

Today’s USMNT news includes the appointment of Matt Crocker as sporting director for U.S. Soccer, Timothy Weah has been linked with Marseille and Zack Steffen and Ethan Horvath met in the Championship. 

USMNT news: Matt Crocker is the new sporting director

Matt Crocker has officially been announced as the sporting director by U.S. Soccer. A statement on their website read “Crocker will immediately begin the process of hiring the head coach of the Men’s National Team and supporting the U.S. Women’s National Team general manager Kate Markgraf and USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski. He will officially start during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

He was not known by many USMNT fans when the news broke yesterday that he was set for the role. However, the more supporters learn of his experience the more they should start to take to him. These experiences include working with the FA in England as Head of Development Teams where they had great success at the senior and youth team level. He was also Academy Manager at Southampton when Gareth Bale was coming through the ranks.

One thing that may cause doubts is that his most recent role was Director of Football Operations at Southampton who are currently bottom of the Premier League. Whilst at the Saints he was involved with the club speaking to Jesse Marsch as a candidate to be their manager. As the two know each other it could help the cause to bring Marsch in as the next head coach of the USMNT.

USMNT news: Timothy Weah to Marseille

Timothy Weah has been on a good run of games for Lille this season despite being used as a full-back rather than his natural position as a forward. It has now been reported that the USMNT player has been linked with a move to another Ligue 1 side in Lille.

L’Equipe has reported that Weah is an option for Marseille as they need a versatile player to replace Nuno Tavares who is set to return to Arsenal when his loan comes to an end.

Marseille alongside Paris Saint-Germain are one of the biggest clubs in France. They are also second to PSG in the league. Weah’s current club Lille are fifth so it would be a step up for him to transfer to Marseille.

USMNT news: Zack Steffen and Ethan Horvath face off

There was a lot of USMNT interest in the goalkeepers during the Luton Town vs Middlesbrough game last night as Ethan Horvath and Zack Steffen came up against each other. Steffen’s Boro took the lead when Cameron Archer rounded an onrushing Horvath before tapping into an empty net.

However, it was Horvath’s Hatters who had the last laugh as Tom Lockyer scored past Steffen from a corner. Luton then got the winner when Carlton Morris managed to convince the referee that Steffen had fouled him in the box and then converted the resulting penalty.

Luton is now third with Middlesbrough fourth in the Championship, so the two sides could meet in the playoffs for a chance at promotion to the Premier League.