FC Dallas fire Nico Estévez: How many MLS coaches have been fired this year?

FC Dallas announced announced on Sunday that they were parting ways with head coach Nico Estévez. The Spaniard becomes the third MLS coach in as many weeks to lose his job, owing to poor performances in the first half of the season.

“It is always a difficult decision to part ways with your head coach. A great deal of thought and deliberation went into this move as it is still early in the season. We believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club,” said FC Dallas president Dan Hunt in a statement.

A statement from Dallas confirmed that assistant coach Peter Luccin will step in to take charge of the team on an interim basis while Estévez’ permanent replacement is found.

How many MLS coaches have been fired?

We’re now at the halfway point of the MLS regular season and the league table is taking on a very distinct shape. The likes of Real Salt Lake, FC Cincinnati are leading the pace in the race for the Supporters’ Shield but we’ve seen some very ambitious clubs floundering at the wrong end of the table.

Dallas fired Estevez after a poor start to the season, one in which the club broke its transfer record to bring in Croatian striker Petar Musa. Estevez leaves after two and half years with the club but he was not the first MLS manager to be dismissed this season.

The first to go was Nashville SC who took the bold step of removing the only head coach in their History. Gary Smith led the team in their inaugural MLS campaign back in 2020 but in May, with the team down in 10th in the Eastern Conference, he was removed.

Last week Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda was the next to go, fired after having taking the ambitious team to 13th place in the East. Pineda took charge of Atlanta three years ago but the team have regressed under his leadership in 2024.

Strangely, none of the three MLS teams to have dismissed their head coaches have managed to find a replacement. In the case of Dallas that is understandable, but nearly four weeks have passed since Smith left Nashville. As Minnesota United proved with their lengthy pursuit of Eric Ramsay, sometimes it’s better to wait for the right choice. But with the MLS season in full flow they will be eager to get a permanent boss in place as soon as possible.