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Crocker, the director of football operations at
Premier League side Southampton, will take the reins officially
on Aug. 2 but will spend the weeks before supporting the women's
national team in the leadup to the World Cup, which kicks off in
Australia and New Zealand on July 20.
"Twelve of the last 13 years, the U.S. women's national team has
had an unbelievable record of being the number one team,"
Crocker told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. "But
that gap is getting closed all the time."
The United States are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive
title and fifth overall.
"There's more professional leagues across Europe and the world
now," said Crocker. "The players are fitter and stronger because
they get to train every day in a professional environment... the
chasing pack is, you know, is right on our heels."
His other primary objective will be identifying a new head coach
for the men's national team, who reached the knockout stages of
the World Cup in Qatar last year.
The team was embroiled in turmoil after the tournament when a
bitter dispute broke out between former coach Gregg Berhalter,
U.S. midfielder Gio Reyna and his parents.
Berhalter's contract expired on Dec. 31 but he is still in the
frame to be rehired according to media reports.
"I guess what I see from the current team is an aggressive, a
forward thinking and a fearless team that went to the World Cup
and did some great stuff," said Crocker, who declined to comment
on individual candidates.
"I'm really, really keen to make sure that we produce a coach
that can replicate and continue to drive forward some of those
behaviors."
Crocker leaves Southampton after three years, where he led the
club’s football operations across the men’s first team, academy
program and the girls' and women's program. He exits the club
with the senior men's side bottom of the English Premier League.
For the English FA, he oversaw the England youth teams from the
under-15 to under-20 programs.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Toby Davis)
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