Former Real Salt Lake General Manager Joins Seattle Sounders Front Office

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel has joined the Seattle Sounders Front Office after being named as the Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations & Sporting Director.

Waibel, who spent four years as RSL’s General Manager, helping the club to three postseason births during that tenure, returns to work alongside his former boss and current General Manager and Sounders President Garth Lagerway.

NEWS | Craig Waibel has been named Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations & Sporting Director.

Welcome to the Sounders Family! 💚💙

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— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 1, 2021

“After an exhaustive interview process, we feel Craig Waibel is uniquely qualified to make us better,” said Lagerwey. “His years of experience as a GM gives him a track record of success picking players and overseeing a club, while his experience with player development will hopefully push our best young talents into further success with our First Team. Perhaps most importantly, his personal connection to our community here in Seattle, through UW and the Sounders, is what gives this hire the potential to be really special. With all of these qualities in mind, I could not be more excited to work with Craig going forward as our new Sporting Director.”

Waibel’s tenure with RSL came to a crashing end following the ugly dismissal of former Manager Mike Petke. Waibel’s name was included in the lawsuit in which Petke filed against the club after being dismissed for using inappropriate language to a referee following a Leagues Cup game in 2019. Waibel’s time as RSL’s General Manager ended shortly before the 2019 regular season concluded.

“I’m very excited to return to the Pacific Northwest and join one of the most successful organizations in MLS,” said Waibel. “I have very fond memories of Seattle from my time at the University of Washington and as a Sounder in my playing days, on top of respecting this club as an opponent in the Western Conference while with RSL. I look forward to working with Garth and Brian and doing what I can to continue the success that they, and others, have already built here.”