Waibel has been promoted to the role, having been Seattle's Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations and the Sporting Director since April 2021, and he will oversee all areas of the club’s soccer operations, encompassing the first team, their reserve team at Tacoma Defiance and the academy.
During his time at the club, Sounders won the CONCACAF Champions League, becoming the first Major League Soccer team to do so.
Sounders Owner Adrian Hanauer said: "Since joining the club, not only has Craig proven himself a fantastic executive, but also someone who understands our league as a whole and understands our soccer community in the Pacific Northwest.
"He’s a Sounder through and through, dating back to his playing days with us in the A-League, going on to become one of the most experienced executives in North American soccer. We are fortunate to have him leading us during this crucial phase in our history, I’m excited to continue working with him and look forward to what he can accomplish.”
He succeeds Lagerway, after the previous GM and CSO was recently named President and CEO of fellow MLS side Atlanta United.
Sounders, and indeed all MLS clubs, benefit from a league-wide deal on TransferRoom.
It means they all gain direct access to real-time data on over 90,000 players and decision makers at more than 650 clubs worldwide, driving international player sale revenues and the domestic transfer market.
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