In a shocking announcement, interim US Men’s National Team head coach Anthony Hudson has stepped down from his role prior to the busy summer schedule, leaving his assistant to help the team navigate two regional competitions.
To fill the vacancy, BJ Callaghan is promoted to head coach of the USMNT by US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker as Anthony Hudson departs for a new opportunity. Callaghan has been the USMNT assistant for four years and will guide the team through the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup this summer.
“BsJ has been an integral part of the USMNT staff during the last four years as this young team has grown and developed,” Crocker said. “Working alongside Anthony Hudson these last five months, we are confident he is prepared and ready to lead this group in the summer tournaments. We are grateful to Anthony for the tremendous job he did and wish him success in the future.”
Former head coach Gregg Berhalter appointed Callaghan as the assistant coach and strategy analyst for the USMNT in December 2018, shortly after he had been awarded the US Soccer “PRO” Coaching License. He is currently the longest serving USMNT technical staff member on board.
Callaghan was in charge of implementing workflows and processes for more robust opponent analysis, and set how the technical staff would analyze and develop the game model for the USMNT. He also carried out the usual duties of an assistant coach.
Callaghan oversaw the group while they were in camp, as well as scouts who were watching games involving potential USMNT rivals, as more scouts and analysts were added to the technical staff of the USMNT throughout the cycle.
“I understand the responsibility of the job and am honored to have the opportunity to build upon the progress this group has made the last four years,” Callaghan said. “Together, we have built a strong culture and a great understanding of how we want to play, and we expect to continue to build on that progress. Our goal is clear: defend both of our Concacaf titles.”
The 41-year-old Ventnor, New Jersey native holds a US Soccer Pro License and has coached at every game level. Before his time with the USMNT, he spent seven years with the Philadelphia Union, first as the Union Academy’s first team assistant coach for two years and then as Jim Curtin’s first-team assistant coach for five years. Callaghan was a four-year player for Ursinus College and a Villanova assistant.
Hudson is leaving after serving as the head coach of the U-20 Men’s Youth National Team in 2020 and then as an assistant coach for the USMNT from 2021, until taking over the reigns on an interim basis in January of this year.
The team advanced to the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four and the Gold Cup, where they will defend both championships, thanks to victories over Grenada and El Salvador in March. His continued pursuit of dual nationals during his time in charge led to several players deciding to play for the United States, most recently heralded forward Folarin Balogun.
“I would like to thank U.S Soccer for the opportunity to be part of such a great team of players and staff,” Hudson said. “It’s been an honor to represent the National Team and one that I have truly valued and enjoyed. The group is in good hands with BJ, and I’m excited to watch and support the team as it continues to grow and reach the heights we all know they are capable of.”
The search for the permanent manager of the USMNT is underway.
Callaghan is a logical choice to immediately fill in the position in the busy upcoming months which include the Nations League Final Four and Gold Cup this summer, as he already has strong and ready-built relationships with the entire player pool. In addition, he has experience with the position that will be required of him this summer, having helped guide the team to victories in the 2021 editions of both tournaments, as well as a runner-up finish at the 2019 Gold Cup.
“I’ve learned a lot from navigating these competitions with the team during the previous cycle, as well as the three-game World Cup qualifying windows” he stated.
“The Nations League has two high-level matches and then you immediately have to switch your approach with a mostly different roster as you’re coming in to navigate the Gold Cup during a 30-day period.”
“I have strong experience in both competitions and understand the unique challenges both present. We will rely strongly on the well-established relationships with the players in order to help us defend both titles.”
The USMNT will defend its back-to-back championships this summer, starting with the CONCACAF Nations League. The 2022–23 CNL Final Four, which will take place from June 15–18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, will feature a rematch of the exciting 2021 championship game between the United States and rival Mexico, although this time at the semifinal state.
In that game in 2021, extra-time heroics from Christian Pulisic and Ethan Horvath propelled the USMNT to a memorable 3-2 victory against El Tr in Denver. The winner of the USA-Mexico match will compete for first place against the winner of the Panama-Canada semifinal. The losers of the other two semifinals will compete for third place. On June 18, both contests will take place.
The United States then starts its pursuit of a record-tying eighth confederation title in Group A of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup alongside Jamaica, Nicaragua, and a team that will be selected via the 2023 Gold Cup Preliminary play-in. The Gold Cup will be held in locations across North America from June 24 to July 16.
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