Resignation of Matt Crocker Sparks Reaction from Landon Donovan

A prominent figure in American soccer, Landon Donovan, has reacted strongly to Matt Crocker’s announcement that he would be stepping down from his role as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director. This decision comes just two months before the World Cup is set to begin.

“If you don’t want to be here, get rid of me,” Donovan emphasized. He expressed concerns about Crocker’s level of dedication during his tenure, claiming he never sensed a real commitment to soccer in the United States.

Crocker, who was in the position for less than a year, resigned to accept a comparable role in Saudi Arabia. “I always felt he wasn’t fully committed here,” Donovan said, adding that the sport deserves leadership that genuinely cares about its growth.

Donovan’s message was clear: “If he doesn’t want to be here, we should be glad he’s gone. I’m looking forward to having someone in that position who genuinely cares about soccer, rather than just earning a paycheck.”

Crocker took over in 2023 after Ernie Stewart moved on to a role in the Netherlands. He brought back coach Gregg Berhalter and later engaged Mauricio Pochettino for the men’s team.

Upon Crocker’s departure, the responsibilities will be taken over by U.S. Soccer Chief Operating Officer Dan Helfrich, assistant athletic director Oguchi Onyewu, and women’s national youth team development director Tracy Kevins.

“This change will be beneficial in the long term,” Donovan asserted. He noted that while the shift might spark some initial unease, it shouldn’t affect the upcoming World Cup preparations significantly. “Nothing he was doing day-to-day was making a meaningful difference,” he stated.

As Donovan reassured fans, “There’s no need for concern. The team in place is capable enough to handle things right now, and it won’t impact the tournament.”

Despite Donovan’s efforts to present a calm outlook, the news of Crocker’s resignation caught many by surprise, especially with only 59 days until the U.S. kicks off its first game in the World Cup on home turf. Compounding the situation, the U.S. men’s national team faced a disappointing March, suffering losses to Portugal and Belgium.