Austin FC announce hiring of USMNT assistant and former FC Dallas manager Nico Estévez as head coach

Austin FC have turned to former FC Dallas manager Nico Estévez as their new head coach, hoping to change their fortunes after two seasons out of the postseason.

“We are delighted to have Nico join Austin FC as our second-ever head coach,” said Austin FC Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell in an official statement. “Our search process was extremely detailed and we feel he is someone that ticks all the boxes – he is highly ambitious, has experience in MLS, and he is familiar with the culture in Texas. We believe he will be an excellent fit for this Club and community both on and off the field, and we’d like to wish him and his family a warm welcome to Austin.”

Estévez, 44, comes to Austin after recently working as a holdover assistant from Gregg Berhalter's staff on the U.S. men's national team to new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Prior to that, he was the manager of FC Dallas, where he had a 28-27-29 record. In his two full seasons in charge, he was able to guide the Toros to two postseason appearances. After a slow start in 2024, Dallas parted ways with the manager.

“Austin is a vibrant city with fantastic music, food, culture, and most importantly, a fanbase that is incredibly passionate about soccer and Austin FC,” said Estévez in a statement. “That passion was one of the main reasons why coming to Austin was so exciting to me, and I’m looking forward to growing the team on the field while getting to know our supporters on a personal level. I want to thank Rodolfo and the entire Club for this opportunity.”

Estevez's arrival will immediately heighten a budding rivalry between FC Dallas and his new club Austin, especially if both clubs return to form next season. The manager had a mixed spell in Dallas, but did have a strong record of bringing his team to the postseason and even brought his previous club to the Conference Semifinals in 2022. On an ambitious Austin side that already has one of the best setups and fanbases in MLS, expectations will be high.

Estevez's decision will also impact the U.S. national team as he was on Pochettino's staff. U.S. Soccer congratulated Estevez following his hire.

“We’d like to thank Nico for all his contributions to the program,” U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said in a separate statement. “He’s a fantastic coach and an even better person. We wish him continued success.”

Austin is out of the playoffs, so its focus will shift toward scouting for the upcoming draft and reshaping the roster after a 10th-placed finish.