The end of the Major League Soccer season has brought about a host of changes, with clubs making new signings, trading for additional players and drafting college prospects.
The changes also include the coaching ranks, with five new coaches hired and at least a few more positions left to be filled ahead of the 2024 regular season.
We dive into what is already a busy offseason with a look at some of the league’s newest coaches.
New head coach: Dean Smith
Former head coach: Christian Lattanzio
Last season’s record: 10-11-13, 43 PTS | 9th in Eastern Conference
Despite a first trip to the MLS Cup playoffs, albeit a short one with a Wild Card round defeat at the New York Red Bulls, Charlotte FC parted ways with Christian Lattanzio after a year-and-a-half on Nov. 8. A little more than a month later, Dean Smith was hired as the new manager.
Smith is known for getting Aston Villa promoted back to the English Premier League and also had stints with Norwich City and Leicester City in England.
“We’ve done a comprehensive long process of about three, four weeks, where we looked at a number of candidates and, to be honest, Dean stood out from the very first moment,” Charlotte FC sporting director Zoran Krneta said at a press conference. “He has the ability to make the players better, and I think it's his desire to come here. That's very important. He wants to be here. He wanted to come and take us to the next level.”
Smith has also managed Brentford and Walsall, working across England’s top three divisions. Now he’s set for a new challenge in Charlotte, with high expectations.
“If I sat here and said I have come to do anything but win MLS Cup, I shouldn't be hired,” Smith said. “The role is for anybody to be as ambitious as possible and my ambitions are to bring the MLS trophy here. Whether that be the next year, the year after that, that's my ambition and the players will know that as soon as they get here.”
New head coach: Chris Armas
Former head coach: Robin Fraser
Last season’s record: 5-17-12, 27 PTS | 14th in Western Conference
One month before their last-place finish, the Colorado Rapids fired Robin Fraser and assistant coach Chris Little took over as interim coach for the remainder of the season.
In comes Chris Armas, a familiar face in Major League Soccer circles for his time as one of the top defensive midfielders in league history and then in the coaching ranks — first as a New York Red Bulls assistant and then as Red Bulls head coach. He also had a short stint as Toronto FC head coach.
“We’re delighted to begin a new chapter at the Colorado Rapids with Chris as our head coach,” Rapids president Pádraig Smith said in a release. “Chris brings a wealth of experience across the highest levels of the game, both as a player and as a coach. He is a natural leader who demands the highest standards from his players and understands what it takes to build a positive and winning culture. We believe he has the personal qualities, experience and shared vision to help us achieve the success we seek.”
Armas also served as an assistant coach in the English Premier League, with Manchester United (2021-22) and Leeds United (2023). He takes over a Colorado team that missed the playoffs in back-to-back years after finishing first in the Western Conference in 2021.
“I’ve always been eager to implement my style of play at a club that plays and trains at altitude. This advantage, along with high energy, attacking and entertaining football, can help our team and fans return to home-field dominance,” Armas said. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to take the reins and to work with the entire staff to get the club back into the playoffs and ultimately to bring another MLS Cup to Colorado."
New head coach: TBD
Former head coach: Wayne Rooney
Last season’s record: 10-14-10, 40 PTS | 12th in Eastern Conference
The Wayne Rooney era concluded on Oct. 7, with a mutual parting of ways after D.C. United were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive year. The English legend returned home and days later was named the new Birmingham City manager in the English Championship.
The search for a new coach is on, with the club reportedly interviewing former El Salvador national team coach Hugo Perez and former New York City FC manager Dome Torrent. Bruce Arena’s name has also surfaced, which could mean a return to the district for the club’s most successful manager.
The 72-year-old, who resigned as sporting director and head coach of the New England Revolution in September a month after being placed on administrative leave amid allegations of “insensitive and inappropriate remarks,” had unprecedented success at D.C. United. He led the team to back-to-back MLS Cup titles in the league’s first two years, as well as a U.S. Open Cup title, a Supporters’ Shield crown and a Concacaf Champions Cup trophy.
Arena won three more MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shield titles with the LA Galaxy and another Supporters’ Shield with the Revs.
New head coach: TBD
Former head coach: Hernan Losada
Last season’s record: 12-17-5, 41 PTS | 10th in Eastern Conference
The Hernan Losada era lasted all of one season in Montreal with the Argentine departing in November after the club finished 10th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs.
Among the candidates to emerge are Pa-Modou Kah, who has served as an assistant coach with Charlotte, Cincinnati and Vancouver, Laurent Courtois, head coach of Columbus Crew, and Giovanni Savarese, who led the Portland Timbers to a pair of MLS Cup final appearances in his five seasons.
New head coach: Sean McAuley (interim)
Former head coach: Adrian Heath
Last season’s record: 15-9-10, 55 PTS | 5th in Eastern Conference
Minnesota United parted ways with the only MLS coach the club has known in October, two games before the end of the regular season. Assistant coach Sean McAuley took over on an interim basis, unable to guide the Loons over the playoff line.
In November, Minnesota hired Khaled El-Ahmad as sporting director and chief soccer officer and then announced a month later McAuley would stay on as interim coach heading into the 2024 season.
El-Ahmad will arrive from English side Barnsley FC in January and lead the head coach search.
New head coach: Caleb Porter
Former head coach: Bruce Arena
Last season’s record: 15-9-10, 55 PTS | 5th in Eastern Conference
After winning MLS Cup titles with the Portland Timbers (2015) and Columbus Crew (2020), Caleb Porter will try to do the same with the New England Revolution, an MLS original still in search of their first MLS Cup crown.
“Caleb Porter is a gifted and respected coach with more than two decades of coaching experience who has delivered MLS Cup championships to both of his previous clubs. Caleb has consistently demonstrated the leadership and tactical acumen needed to build a winning team in our league,” Revolution sporting director Curt Onalfo said in a statement on December 19. “We know he is the right person to lead our team, which we believe is already well positioned to compete for trophies.”
After leading Columbus to the 2020 title, the club missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons, leading to Porter’s departure.
“Throughout the interview process, it was clear the character, passion and ambition that the people in this club possess and I immediately felt connected and aligned with their strategy and values,” Porter said. “The Revolution have a rich history and I’m driven to build off that strong foundation and help the players add to their legacy with the club.”
NEW YORK RED BULLS
New head coach: Sandro Schwarz
Former head coach: Troy Lesesne
Last season’s record: 11-13-10, 43 PTS | 8th in Eastern Conference
The New York Red Bulls have once again gone the international route to find their head coach, hiring German Sandro Schwarzon December 14. Schwarz has managed German Bundesliga sides FSV Mainz 05 and Hertha Berlin, as well as Russian Premier League club Dynamo Moscow.
“We are very pleased to welcome Sandro to the club,” head of sport Jochen Schneider said in a release. “Sandro is a great leader that fits our culture and his head coaching experience in Europe fits with what we are trying to accomplish. We are excited to get him here and begin to work towards success in 2024.”
Schwarz replaces Troy Lesesne, who took over in May for now Red Bull Salzburg manager Gerhard Struber. The Red Bulls have made the MLS Cup playoffs for a record 14th consecutive season but the club have yet to win MLS Cup.
“I look forward to joining the club and getting started soon,” Schwarz, 45, said in a release. “I have a lot of motivation to accomplish many great things with this club and I am excited to get to work for the upcoming season.”
PORTLAND TIMBERS
New head coach: Phil Neville
Former head coach: Giovanni Savarese
Last season’s record: 11-13-10, 43 PTS | 10th in Western Conference
A few months removed from his dismissal in Miami, Phil Neville is on his second MLS team, announced as Portland Timbers head coach in November.
"We are thrilled to welcome Phil Neville as the new head coach of the Portland Timbers, and we look forward to making Phil and his family feel at home in Portland," general manager Ned Grabavoy said in a release. “Phil’s character makes him the right person to lead this team forward as we continue to reshape the group with the goal of returning to sustained success. His leadership qualities, diverse experience as a coach, and ambition to evolve made him a terrific fit here with us in Portland.”
Neville was in charge of Inter Miami for two-and-a-half seasons before being let go on June 1. He was then part of John Herdman’s staff with the Canadian national team.
"I am massively excited about the challenge ahead, and from the very first moment I met the staff I knew it was the right opportunity for me, the right club for me and the right city for me," Neville said. “The fans are the most important part of this football club with their intensity and support, and I think this journey is going to be something special. I have great memories visiting Portland, which reminds me of Manchester, my hometown, and I can’t wait for my family to get to know this beautiful city.”
