Report: U.S. Soccer to add a GM position, restructure presidential role

A drastic change could be coming to the top of U.S. Soccer. ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle reports that the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors are restructuring the presidential role, proposing to add a general manager position.

Among the major changes, according to Carlisle, is that the general manager would oversee the United States Men’s National Team, with the head coach reporting directly to the GM. Other changes, like whether the GM would also oversee the USWNT or serve as a technical director, are not yet known. It is expected that any changes would be put in place prior to the USSF presidential election that will take place at the Annual General Meeting in February.

Reviews on this proposed change have been applauded by some fans, saying this is the first of many necessary changes that should take place at Soccer House. However, other fans have viewed this proposal with skepticism, adding that it’s a way for the board to take power away from the next U.S. Soccer president and remove the president from the business of running some of U.S. Soccer’s higher profile business, namely the USMNT and USWNT. As U.S. Soccer prepares to announce the list of candidates that will seek to replace outgoing USSF president Sunil Gulati, the candidates may have to explain how they will run the Federation under the new proposed changes, and whether in the end, the buck will continue to stop with them.