US men’s national team interim manager Anthony Hudson is leaving the federation for another job. Assistant BJ Callaghan was given the interim title for this summer’s CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup.
Callaghan has served as an assistant coach in the US for the past four years and is currently the longest-serving member of the USMNT’s technical staff.
Hudson’s next stop is a club in the Middle East, according to multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about Hudson’s future.
The change in interim managers comes as US Soccer continues its search for a permanent head coach. Former manager Gregg Berhalter’s contract expires at the end of 2022. US Soccer hired Matt Crocker as sporting director on April 25 and recently said they hope to have a coach in place by the end of August. Crocker is leading the search along with US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone and CEO and secretary general JT Batson.
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The organization’s decision to wait until after the summer tournaments to hire a permanent coach will now be under more scrutiny as they move to a second interim manager in the last six months.
“BJ has been an integral part of the USMNT staff for the last four years as the young team has grown and developed,” Crocker said in a statement. “Having worked with Anthony Hudson for the last five months, we are confident he is ready and willing to lead this group through the summer tournaments. We thank Anthony for the tremendous work he has done and wish him success in the future.
US Soccer is expected to announce the Nations League roster on Thursday. Camp opens on June 5 in Los Angeles before the semifinal match-up with Mexico on June 15.
Hudson left after serving as the U-20 head coach in 2020 and then as an assistant coach for the USMNT from 2021 before taking over in January of this year. With wins over Grenada and El Salvador in March, Hudson advanced the team to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League as well as the Gold Cup where they will defend both titles. He also helped secure the commitment of many dual nationals, including Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun.
“I want to thank US Soccer for the opportunity to be a part of such a great team of players and staff,” Hudson said in a statement. “It is an honor to represent the National Team and one that I truly appreciate and enjoy. The group is in good hands with BJ, and I am excited to watch and support the team as it continues to grow and reach the heights we all know they are capable of.”
Callaghan joined US Soccer in 2019 from the Philadelphia Union and initially served as a strategy analyst before being promoted to assistant coach. He was part of the staff that won the 2021 Nations League and Gold Cup and reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“I understand the responsibility of the job and am honored to have the opportunity to build on the progress of this group over the past four years,” Callaghan said in a statement. “Together, we’ve built a strong culture and a good understanding of how we want to play, and we look forward to continuing to build on that progress. Our goal is clear: defend both our Concacaf titles.
Callaghan spent seven years with the Philadelphia Union, two years coaching in the academy and five years as a first team assistant coach to Jim Curtin. Callaghan played four seasons at Ursinus College and served as an assistant at Villanova.
“He was someone I called right away,” Curtin said The Athletic in 2018. “A lot of people tend to go with guys you’ve been with or done a favor for someone. But I did it in a way where I chose someone I trust and know has a high soccer IQ and can help facilitate the messages we want to convey. And he’s been the most important person in my development as a coach, honestly.”
While he performed the normal duties of a USMNT assistant coach under Berhalter, Callaghan also implemented processes for how the technical staff would evaluate opponents and develop a game model for the USMNT. . Callaghan managed USMNT scouts and analysts, as well as scouts watching matches involving future USMNT opponents.
“After speaking with BJ, one major takeaway is that nothing changes for this group,” USMNT defender Tim Ream said in a statement. “The messaging, purpose, and ideas remain the same, with a new voice at the top. He has a familiar voice that we all feel comfortable with and has been there for a long time.”
It is unclear who will join Callaghan on the USMNT staff for the two tournaments. US under-20 coach Mikey Varas previously worked with the senior team, but is currently with his team at the U-20 World Cup. The U-20s face New Zealand on Tuesday in the Round of 16. US under-19 coach Marko Mitrovic has also served on staff, at times. US Soccer currently does not have a full-time goalkeeper coach. NYCFC’s Rob Vartughian served as the goalkeeper coach for the camp earlier this year.
Callaghan will serve as a bridgehead for two CONCACAF competitions before a new manager is named.
“I learned a lot from navigating these competitions with the team last cycle, as well as the three-game World Cup qualifying window,” Callaghan said in a statement. “The Nations League has two high-level matches and then you have to immediately change your approach to a different roster as you come in to navigate the Gold Cup over a 30-day period. I have strong experience in both competitions and understand the unique challenges that both present. We will rely heavily on good relations with the players to help us defend both titles.
(Photo: Mike Janosz/USSF/Getty Images)
