SANDY, Utah (Friday, September 27, 2019) – Real Salt Lake announced on Friday that the club and General Manager Craig Waibel have mutually agreed to part ways. The remainder of his contract has been terminated, and the club will begin a search for the next General Manager immediately.
“I appreciate Craig coming to Real Salt Lake for the 2014 season as part of the coaching staff. Craig oversaw the organization’s integration of the Real Monarchs, Utah Royals FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, and the relocation and expansion of the Real Salt Lake Academy, which now trains and plays at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah. Craig has been instrumental in the Club’s rapid growth and I wish him success in the future,” said Real Salt Lake Owner Dell Loy Hansen.
Waibel was promoted to Technical Director in December 2014 and then General Manager in August 2015. Under his guidance, RSL reached the postseason in two of his three full seasons as GM and is in position to earn a playoff berth in 2019. Over the past three years, RSL has cultivated an increase in homegrown player development, further establishing the club’s philosophy at all levels of the organization. RSL Academy “Homegrown players” accounted for 10,826 minutes in the 2018 MLS regular season, with that number increasing to 11,304 thus far in 2019, setting the standard in Major League Soccer.
“I would like to thank Dell Loy Hansen for the opportunities presented to me over the past six years. During this time, I have experienced an incredible amount of personal and professional growth and I am proud of the work we have accomplished,” Waibel said. “While I am stepping away to take some time to evaluate the next step in my career, I want to wish Dell Loy, the locker room, and most importantly, the fans nothing but the best in their pursuit of the 2019 MLS Cup.”
Real Salt Lake Assistant General Manager Elliot Fall has been named Interim General Manager and will assume all GM responsibilities while reporting directly to Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Rob Zarkos. Fall has served in different capacities in the organization since 2007. During the 2013-2014 season, he worked closely with former General Manager Garth Lagerwey as Director of Soccer Operations. In November of 2014, Fall was named Assistant General Manager. In each of those roles, he assisted in player acquisition and retention as well as in player development, overseeing the Real Monarchs and the RSL Academy at different stages.
