Anthony Hudson Named Head Coach of U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team
Former New Zealand, Bahrain Manager Will Prepare USA for 2020 Concacaf U-20 Championship
CHICAGO (Jan. 7, 2020) – U.S. Soccer has appointed Anthony Hudson as the new head coach of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team.
The 38-year old has already put together an impressive 12-year managerial career, including time at the helm of the New Zealand and Bahrain senior National Teams. With New Zealand, Hudson became the youngest ever head coach at the FIFA Confederations Cup after leading the All Whites to the 2016 OFC Nations Cup. Hudson holds a UEFA Pro License and most recently managed the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.
“We’re excited to bring Anthony on-board to lead our U-20 Men’s National Team as it prepares for this summer’s Concacaf Championship,” said Earnie Stewart, U.S. Soccer Sporting Director. “We’ve enjoyed great success with the U-20s over the last few cycles and the team has been instrumental in advancing players to our senior Men’s National Team. We believe that Anthony’s experience in the international game and at the club level make him a great choice to continue that success.”
Born in Seattle, Hudson kicked off his coaching career at the lower levels of American soccer before leading teams in England and Wales. He then jumped to the international game, managing the Bahrain U-23 Men’s National Team before taking over the senior squad in Aug. 2013. Hudson moved to Oceania Football Confederation powerhouse New Zealand the following year and reached the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2018 FIFA World Cup where the island nation narrowly fell to Peru. Following his time with the All Whites, Hudson became the youngest manager in Rapids history in 2017.
"I’m very proud to be joining U.S. Soccer,” Hudson said. “It’s a really exciting time with the game's rapid growth in this country and especially with so many talented young players coming through the ranks. I can’t wait to work with them and help develop these players into contributors at the highest level."
Hudson will hold his first training camp with the U-20 MNT this week at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. as he begins to prepare the team for this summer’s Concacaf U-20 Championship, where it will face Costa Rica, Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis in the group stage. The USA is the confederation’s two-time defending U-20 champion, winning its first two confederation titles in 2017 and 2018.
In his role, Hudson will oversee all aspects of the U-20 MNT program and also manage the integration and programming of U-18 and U-19 MNTs to maximize the evaluation and movement of players between the age groups for training camps and matches during the World Cup cycle
As a player, Hudson came up through the academy of Premier League club West Ham United and played there as well as at Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen. In 2006, he started as a player-coach with the Wilmington Hammerheads in the former USL Second Division, launching his transition to the touchline. His first head coach position came with the Real Maryland Monarchs, also in the USL Second Division before he spent time as manager for the Tottenham Hotspur reserves and Newport County, a Welsh club in the fifth tier of English soccer.