MLS coaching carousel: Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC, NYCFC and Vancouver Whitecaps cannot fail with next hires after 12 MLS managerial changes in 2024

Gary Smith of Nashville SC was the first manager to be fired this season, with the Englishman getting the sack on May 16, and three more firings followed in June - FC Dallas, Atlanta United and San Jose. The first shocker came on July 1, though, when CITY fired Carnell.

That was the tipping point for the league. Seven of the eventual 12 vacancies have since been filled, some immediately, and some over time.

There are still five vacancies, with each presenting its own unique opportunity. How do those teams capitalize?

Who's out?

Jim Curtin was removed from his position after missing the 2024 postseason. It was a shocking dismissal, considering he is widely-viewed as one of the best coaches in the league. However, ownership and Curtin apparently "were not aligned" with the club's mission.

Pros and cons of the job

The obvious strength for the job is you have access to the best academy in MLS, and, you are being put on the touchline to mentor perhaps the most exciting prospect in American soccer in Cavan Sullivan. The Union's youth has always propelled them to success, and Sullivan is arguably the best player in his age group across North America - and one of the best in the world.

In terms of weaknesses, though, you won't have a large transfer budget, nor will you have access to big-name players that other teams are signing. The Union have always worked with little and found success, so it's hard to see them pivoting from that.

Where do they go from here?

It's evident the Union aren't going to pursue a flashy hire, nor are they going to spend big on one. Somebody such as Rob Valentino, who impressed in his debut stint on the touchline in MLS as Atlanta United's interim manager in 2024, would make sense. Looking at former Austin FC manager, Josh Wolff, would be sensible, too. He's a former U.S. international who knows the league well, and would potentially be a good mentor for their young core - including the Sullivan brothers, Cavan and Quinn.

Who's out?

Gonzalo Pineda was removed his position on June 3 after a rough start to the season. After being brought into the club in 2021, he missed the postseason in 2022, and in 2023, they were knocked out in the opening round of the postseason. The final string was losing five consecutive home matches at the start of 2024.

Pros and cons of the job

Atlanta have the most exciting opening of any MLS team this offseason. They have the finances and roster spots to completely revamp their roster. Potentially, we they could have two U22 initiative signings, two new DP's and a new GM - and they just re-signed 2024 MLS Playoff hero Brad Guzan after upsetting Inter Miami in the playoffs. It's more than an enticing job, it's a competitive one that many coaches will be vying for.

Where do they go from here?

Valentino seemed likely to be in the mix after his brilliant takeover in 2024, but he announced his departure last week. Now, club president Garth Lagerway and the Five Stripes are set to undergo an in-depth hiring process. The obvious move, though, is Jim Curtin. The ex-Union boss is one of MLS' most successful managers, and he's achieved so much with so little over the years. If you give him money to spend to build an elite roster, it could be a great fit.

Who's out?

Vanni Sartini was dismissed after Vancouver was eliminated after a closely-contested Round One playoff series against LAFC. The Whitecaps smashed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in the Eastern Conference Wildcard match, but fell to the No. 1 seed in the opening round.

Sartini didn't excel with Vancouver, but he didn't underperform either. Notably, though, he was outspoken on a number of topics. In 2023, he was initially suspended for six matches for comments aimed at a referee following a postseason exit, though that was later reduced to four games. After their 2024 season came to an end, it seemed as though it was just the right time for both parties to move on.

Pros and cons of the job

The Whitecaps have an important offseason ahead. They have Ryan Gauld in his prime years, Brian White playing excellent, and a terrific defensive pairing with centerbacks in Tristan Blackmon and Ranko Veselinovic, with Scottish veteran Stuart Armstrong in the midfield. Elsewhere, though, a lot of their roster feels replaceable.

Notably, though, they don't have a ton of room regarding high-profile player. They have maxed out their DP and U22 slots at the moment, so any additional upgrades will come in the form of TAM or GAM signings.

Where do they go from here?

They need to target a coach who can get the most out of the current group, while using the transfer market to elevate the team. The ambitious answer is Pellegrino Matarazzo, a German-American coach who has lived in Europe since 2000 - and has constantly been talked about as a potential MLS coach. He was sacked from his role as Hoffenheim manager after a poor start to the season, and is available. It would be a flashy hire, and potentially one that could draw talent to the club.

Who's out?

The Pigeons removed Nick Cushing from his position as head coach this week. His departure came after a Conference Semifinal playoff loss to crosstown rivals New York Red Bulls, and an overall up-and-down season across the Eastern Conference. They didn't find success in Cup competitions, nor did they excel during the regular season, so it simply seemed a change was warranted. The Englishman led them to a 40W-40L-27D record across all competitions from 2022 onward.

Pros and cons of the job

The biggest strength of the NYCFC job is the club has showed they are willing to invest in youth, while spending on Designated Players. Add in they have a brilliant soccer-specific stadium in Etihad Park opening in New York in 2027, and it feels like there is a really unique project on the cards. However, the weaknesses seem to outweigh the positives at the moment.

The club currently plays matches at Yankee Stadium or Citi Field, both baseball stadiums, without traditional fields. It's been hard to convince players to transfer to the club as a result, and at the same time, their roster needs severe surgery. They struggled in the attacking-third throughout the campaign, and will need to revamp the wings, the No. 10 position and at striker to compete in 2024.

Where do they go from here?

NYCFC should be calling Domenec Torrent. He led the club in 2018 and 2019, before mutually departing so that he could take a job with Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo. From there, he moved to Turkish giants Galatasaray in 2022, before returning to Mexican side Atletico San Luis in 2024. This year, he's worked wonders with the Liga MX side, and has been a standout coach in the Mexican top division. He knows NYCFC well, knows MLS well and previously led them to a 64-point regular season in 2019 - a club record. It's a no-brainer for the Pigeons.

Who's out?

John Herdman announced his departure from TFC on Nov. 29, leaving after roughly 15 months on the job in MLS. After missing the postseason in two-consecutive years, the club were stagnating under him - and on top of that - he is still a part of the ongoing Canada Soccer done scandal investigation. His previous stints with both the men's and women's national teams have drawn concerns after a CWNT staffer was caught spying on an opposition team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which ultimately saw head coach Bev Priestman fired.

Herdman has adamantly denied any wrongdoing during his time with the national team program.

Pros and Cons of the job

The thing about TFC is that they've shown their willingness to spend and invest in talent, which has always led to relative success. The most notable saga was 2017, when they claimed the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cub, spearheaded by ex-MLS star Sebastian Giovinco. Since, the club has brought in talent like Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Matty Longstaff and Richie Laryea, with the former two being the superstars of the squad.

A major con, though, is the club is near rock-bottom at the moment. Their last Canadian Championship trophy was in 2020; the same season where they last made a postseason appearance, too.

It sounds like Insigne is on his way out this offseason as well, so there will be roster spots to play with, though, and money to spend, too. For any manager willing to take on a project with relatively high expectations, but support at the same time, it's an enticing opening.

Where do they go from here?
TFC have invested a lot in Bernardeschi and Insigne, and previously - Giovinco, all of whom are Italian. The club has had a fascination with the country's footballing stars in recent years, so it would make sense to see them pursue a manager hire of that nature on the touchline, too.

Of course, Sartini is available, but it would be tough to imagine him swapping Vancouver for Toronto considering the rivalry between the two clubs. In an ambitious sense, they could pursue ex-Juventus boss Max Allegri - who worked with Bernardeschi in Turin, or perhaps the likes of Daniele De Rossi or Maurizio Sarri - both of whom are free agents as well. Realistically, though, it feels like TFC are the club on this list who are going to take their time. With no genuine links to the job yet, it feels like the club needs to undergo a period of evaluation before their next step.