The U.S. Soccer Federation appointed Steve Cherundolo as manager of the U.S. U-23 national team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The 47-year-old Hall of Famer earned 87 caps across three World Cups and spent 13 seasons with Hannover 96, becoming the longest-serving American in Bundesliga history with 415 appearances. Cherundolo called the role "one of the greatest honors in sports" and pledged to build an environment reflecting U.S. Soccer's values.

Cherundolo's coaching résumé centers on a dominant four-year run at LAFC, where he compiled a 106-55-32 record. He delivered a Supporters Shield and MLS Cup double in his first season (2022) and added a U.S. Open Cup title in 2024 before stepping down after 2025 to return to Germany. His prior stops include youth roles at Hannover, assistant posts at VfB Stuttgart and the USMNT under Dave Sarachan, and a stint with Germany's U-15s.

The U.S. qualifies automatically as host nation. Cherundolo's first task involves identification camps at the new National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia. Sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, a former World Cup teammate, emphasized Cherundolo's unique grasp of both American and European player pathways.

This hire signals federation intent to treat the Olympics as a developmental bridge rather than an afterthought. Cherundolo's track record converting young talent into immediate winners at LAFC — and his fluency in the European club calendar — positions him to navigate the over-age player negotiations and roster constraints that have historically hampered U.S. Olympic campaigns.