Craig Waibel
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Craig Waibel | ||
Date of birth | August 21, 1975 | ||
Place of birth | Portland, Oregon, United States | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
Position(s) | Rightback | ||
Youth career | |||
1995–1998 | Washington Huskies | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996–1998 | Spokane Shadow | ||
1999–2000 | Seattle Sounders | 54 | (4) |
2000 | → Colorado Rapids (loan) | 2 | (0) |
2001–2002 |
Los Angeles Galaxy | 21 | (0) |
2001 | → Seattle Sounders (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2002 | → Seattle Sounders (loan) | 5 | (0) |
2003–2005 | San Jose Earthquakes | 53 | (1) |
2006–2010 |
Houston Dynamo | 80 | (6) |
Managerial career | |||
2011 | Michigan Wolverines (assistant) | ||
2012–2013 | Washington Huskies (assistant) | ||
2014 | Real Salt Lake (assistant) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Craig Waibel (born August 21, 1975 in Portland, Oregon) is a former American soccer player who spent eleven seasons in Major League Soccer. He was hired as the sporting director of Seattle Sounders FC in April 2021 and became their general manager in 2022.
Playing career
Amateur and college
Waibel was born in
In 1996, Waibel was injured playing for the
Professional
Upon graduating, Waibel was not selected in the
The following year, Waibel was waived by the Galaxy and was selected again by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2002 Waiver Draft. He won his second straight MLS Cup in 2003, this time with the Quakes. For the 2004 season, Waibel stayed with the Earthquakes and scored his first professional goal, as well as a goal in the 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs. His 2005 season was cut short after knee injury he picked up against Santa Clara University in an exhibition game.
The Earthquakes relocated and became the
In July 2010, Waibel was released by the Dynamo.[6]
Coaching and administration career
Waibel served as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan in 2011. He was then announced as an assistant coach for the Washington Huskies men's soccer program for the 2012 season.[7] After serving as an assistant coach for Real Salt Lake during the 2014 season he was promoted to technical director for the 2015 season.[8] In August 2015, he was promoted to general manager for the club.[9] In September 2019, Real Salt Lake and Waibel parted ways.[10]
On April 1, 2021, Seattle Sounders FC announced their hiring of Waibel as sporting director, working alongside former Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey.[11] He was reunited with his former youth coach Brian Schmetzer, now head coach of the Sounders. After Lagerwey left for Atlanta United FC, the Sounders appointed Waibel as general manager on November 30, 2022.[12]
Personal life
Waibel's twin brother, Chad, is an American football coach in Croatia. His older brother Mario was a professional lacrosse player and later coach.[1]
Honors
- Los Angeles Galaxy
- 2001
- MLS Cup (1): 2002
- Supporters' Shield (1): 2002
- Western Conference Championship (1): 2002
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Houston Dynamo
References
- ^ a b c d e Byrnes, Luke (June 7, 2019). "Move to Spokane helped spark career in pro soccer for Real Salt Lake general manager Craig Waibel". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Top-rated Huskies defeat Wisconsin". The News Tribune. September 26, 1998. p. C3. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Waibel joins Sounders for end of regular season". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. August 24, 2002. p. D2.
- ^ Capodice, Dwain (May 25, 2010). ""Waibel's Warriors" to shave heads, raise funds for cancer research". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ Canetti, Chris (July 26, 2010). "Canetti's Corner - July 26, 2010". HoustonDynamo.com. Houston Dynamo. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- ^ "Soccer Alum Waibel Joins Coaching Staff". University of Washington. August 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
- ^ Kamrani, Chris (December 15, 2014). "Garth Lagerwey to leave RSL, Waibel promoted to Technical Director". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ Kamrani, Christopher (August 28, 2015). "Real Salt Lake: Craig Waibel's moment has arrived — he's now RSL's new GM". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ "Real Salt Lake part ways with GM Craig Waibel". SBI Soccer. 2019-09-28. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (April 1, 2021). "Sounders formally announce Craig Waibel as new VP and sporting director". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (November 30, 2022). "Sounders promote Craig Waibel to GM, replacing Garth Lagerwey". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 30, 2022.