
<p>Oguchi Onyewu is joining the team at US Soccer in a newly created role. The former USMNT representative is going to be the Vice President of Sporting, working closely with new <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-names-matt-crocker-as-next-sporting-director-20230424-WST-429841.html">sporting director Matt Crocker</a>. </p>



<p>In terms of permanent roles, Onyewu will help manage relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and the world. Then, he will strengthen what the Federation called stakeholder relationships. Also, Oguchi Onyewu will work closely with US Soccer in its Developmental Department. There, he will seek increased funding for Youth and Extended National Teams. For each, Onyewu reports directly to Crocker. The former was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/oguchi-onyewu-in-the-running-for-us-soccer-sporting-director-20230307-WST-422601.html">briefly in the running</a> to be the sporting director. </p>



<p>Crucially, US Soccer said Oguchi Onyewu will contribute to the hiring process of the next USMNT head coach. Onyewu was a member of the USMNT as a player for over a decade from 2004 to 2014. During that time, he played in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Therefore, he provides <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-may-miss-out-on-marsch-due-to-baffling-hiring-process-20230211-WST-419278.html">that insider experience</a> that Crocker may lack. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U.S. Soccer Federation Names Oguchi Onyewu as Vice President of Sporting ⚽️<br><br>Two-Time World Cup veteran will assume newly created role » <a href="https://t.co/IYYHcuGbJ7">https://t.co/IYYHcuGbJ7</a> <a href="https://t.co/lcoINtIn1u">pic.twitter.com/lcoINtIn1u</a></p>— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/1656313203620556803?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>“We are thrilled to welcome Oguchi Onyewu to our team at U.S. Soccer,” said Matt Crocker. “His experience as a player and sports executive, coupled with his deep understanding of U.S. Soccer, Oguchi will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our sporting initiatives. We all look forward to working closely with him.”</p>



<h2>Oguchi Onyewu brings long playing career to US Soccer</h2>



<p>Onyewu has experience across the youth system in US Soccer. Not only did he participate in the inaugural class of the U-17 Residency Program in 1999. He played in the 1999 U-17 FIFA World Championship and the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He also <a href="https://twitter.com/ClemsonMSoccer/status/1656333584645652480" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">played for Clemson University</a>.</p>



<p>Combine that youth expertise with Crocker’s former experience with England and Southampton, and it is clear US Soccer is targeting development. With a strong contingent of young players at the 2022 World Cup, the talent pool continues to rise. Therefore, proper management and growth of that can help the Federation in the long run.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Belga</em></p>


US Soccer is bringing back a familiar face in Oguchi Onyewu to work under Matt Crocker, and help with the search for a head coach.

US Soccer names Oguchi Onyewu as Vice President of Sporting


<p>Former United States men’s national team defender Oguchi Onyewu is reportedly a candidate for US Soccer’s vacant sporting director job. According to sources at <em><a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/u-s-soccer-considering-oguchi-onyewu-for-sporting-director" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FOX Sports</a></em>, the 40-year-old retired player is being considered for the role. The news outlet reached out to both Onyewu and U.S. Soccer for comment, but both neither confirmed nor denied the report.</p>



<p>Onyewu made 69 total appearances for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> in the decade between 2004 and 2014. The center back started matches during the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments. He helped the Yanks collect three CONCACAF Gold Cup trophies, as well. Onyewu was included in the team of the tournament for the 2005 Gold Cup and named the U.S. Soccer athlete of the year in 2006.</p>



<h5>Experience in club official roles</h5>



<p>After announcing his retirement as a professional player in 2018, Onyewu then transitioned to more behind-the-scene roles. His first shot at sporting director came in 2018 when he was chosen to lead the Orlando City B team. After just a year at the position, the former defender returned to college to earn a bachelor’s degree in international business and French.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former United States FIFA World Cup defender Oguchi Onyewu is a candidate to fill U.S. Soccer&apos;s vacant sporting director job, multiple sources told FOX Sports. Read more from <a href="https://twitter.com/ByDougMcIntyre?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ByDougMcIntyre</a> here ⬇️</p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1632907954705043457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Onyewu’s most current job with a team was with Belgian second tier club Royal Excelsior Virton. He was the club’s secretary general for 16 months before departing the team in November. He is now currently a studio analyst for CBS Sports.</p>



<h2>Oguchi Onyewu on shrinking list of Sporting Director candidates</h2>



<p>U.S. Soccer has been without a sporting director since <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-parts-ways-with-earnie-stewart-and-brian-mcbride-20230126-WST-417038.html">Earnie Stewart left the post</a> for a similar role with PSV Eindhoven. Stewart previously oversaw the U.S. men’s, women’s, and youth national teams beginning in 2019.</p>



<p>The pool of potential candidates has been shrinking in recent weeks. Peter Vermes and Earnst Tanner were reportedly approached by U.S. Soccer; however, the duo both <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/peter-vermes-ernst-tanner-nix-us-soccer-sporting-director-job-20230224-WST-421177.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rejected the opportunity</a> to become sporting director. Vermes instead signed a new contract to remain Sporting Kansas City’s head coach. Tanner, on the other hand, will remain sporting director of Philadelphia Union.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Belga</em></p>


Former USMNT defender Oguchi Onyewu is reportedly a candidate for the US Soccer sporting director job, vacated by Earnie Stewart.

US Soccer names Oguchi Onyewu as Vice President of Sporting

Oguchi Onyewu

US Soccer names Oguchi Onyewu as Vice President of Sporting

Earnie Stewart

Oguchi Onyewu in the running for US Soccer Sporting Director