US Soccer announced Sporting Director Earnie Stewart and USMNT General Manager Brian McBride are leaving the federation. Stewart will move to Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, the country of his birth and his home as a player.



According to US Soccer CEO JT Batson, the decision to overhaul the USMNT and US Soccer had no impact from the ongoing <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/gregg-berhalter-threatened-with-blackmail-during-world-cup-20230103-WST-414243.html">investigation into Gregg Berhalter</a>.



In fact, US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said Brian McBride stated his intention to leave US Soccer before the 2022 World Cup. He stayed on through the World Cup and slightly beyond to help the transition between roles.



Following the 2022 World Cup, US Soccer began mapping out a full long term plan for US Soccer and the USMNT. That includes preparations for the upcoming 2023 Women’s World Cup, the 2024 Olympics and the 2026 World Cup. On the latter, this leaves the USMNT without a sporting director, general manager and head coach before the biggest tournament in the history of the side.



US Soccer hired a firm named Sportsology to oversee the recruitment of a new sporting director. Moreover, Parlow Cone added that Sportsology will be reviewing the total structure of US Soccer. That could be a change in the roles and responsibilities of a sporting director or general manager.



<h2>Stewart and McBride leave vacancies in US Soccer</h2>



It is certainly a time of <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/01/earnie-stewart-departs-us-soccer-federation-and-returns-to-netherlands-to-join-psv-eindhoven" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">considerable change in US Soccer</a>, for better or for worse. US Soccer wants to fill the sporting director position so it can name a new head coach for the USMNT. As of now, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/anthony-hudson-named-temporary-usmnt-head-coach-20230104-WST-414370.html">Anthony Hudson</a> is the interim head coach of the national team.



Cindy Parlow Cone did not name a definitive timeline on naming a sporting director. That being said, she mentioned they hope to announce one before the Women’s World Cup this summer. 



The incoming sporting director, whomever that may be, will be responsible for naming the next USMNT head coach. For what it is worth, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/berhalter-wants-to-continue-role-with-usmnt-20230106-WST-414575.html">Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate</a> in the hunt for that role. Parlow Cone and Batson maintained that nothing changed in terms of Berhalter’s investigation, as that is being conducted independently.



<h5>Major changes at US Soccer</h5>



Generally speaking, tenures at the international level are shorter. That is particularly true with head coaches, as in the last four World Cups the side competed in, it had four different coaches.



Earnie Stewart was the first sporting director for US Soccer. He took on that role in the summer of 2019. Brian McBride had a storied career as a US international. The next GM of the USMNT will help the head coach on depth charts, monitoring players across the globe, driving technical alignment between youth teams and so on.



PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire

US Soccer announced major changes on Thursday morning, as Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride will step away from the federation.

US Soccer parts ways with Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride

Brian McBride is reportedly not returning as the general manager of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">United States men’s national team</a>.



First reported by <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-states-usa/story/4856930/usmnt-general-manager-brian-mcbride-wont-return-to-program" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN</a>, sources with the sports news outlet claim that U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart informed his board of directors of the move.



<h5>Decision on the move was made on Thursday</h5>



Stewart apparently told the board of the decision to let McBride go during a presentation on Thursday. The source also discussed the situation with the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-united-states-national-soccer-team-brian-mcbride-e6aee8c321742a6eed63f6f44c31f9d9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Associated Press</a> on promises of anonymity. 



Stewart is a former USMNT teammate of McBride and Gregg Berhalter.



McBride had previously held the role of general manager since 2020. The former forward scored 30 international goals during his time as a player for the USMNT. He was also a hit for Columbus Crew and Fulham as well.



Stewart featured in three World Cup tournaments for the American team. The Dutch-born forward began his post-playing career as the technical director of Eredivisie side NAC Breda in 2006. 



Stewart then moved on to similar roles with AZ Alkmaar and Philadelphia Union. Later, he became the USMNT’s first ever general manger in 2018 and was then promoted to his current position a year later.



<h5>Shakeup could be the start of big changes for the USMNT</h5>



News of McBride’s firing comes at a bit of a contentious time within USMNT. Head coach <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/why-us-soccers-gregg-berhalter-contract-should-not-be-renewed-20221211-WST-411761.html">Gregg Berhalter’s</a> future is still very well up in the air. 



The coach has endured a tough time since he was hired in 2018. Stewart initially recommended the hiring of Berhalter as USMNT head coach.



Berhalter is, however, currently being investigated by U.S. Soccer for a domestic violence incident from 1991. Although his contract as head coach has technically expired, there has not yet been an official decision on his role with the team.



The USMNT begins their first training session since the World Cup on Saturday. Berhalter will obviously not be involved. Anthony Hudson is currently leading the American squad on a temporary basis.



Photo credit: IMAGO / ANP

Brian McBride will not return as USMNT general manager according to reports. The former star forward had been in position for three years.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Brian McBride"

Brian McBride

US Soccer parts ways with Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride

USMNT

Brian McBride out as GM of USMNT, says report