MLS coaching turnover grinds on in 2019: Will it break the record again?

Ian Nicholas Quillen

With the Houston Dynamo opting to dismiss Wilmer Cabrera and Real Salt Lake also parting ways with Mike Petke earlier this week, five of Major League Soccer's 24 teams have undertaken coaching changes with roughly a third of the season left to play.

That's still a long way off from breaking last year's record-setting figure of nine coaching changes, but as more teams fall out of contention or other coaches opt for new opportunities, perhaps that number will be in play before the season ends

The Colorado Rapids were the first team to make a change this season, parting ways with Anthony Hudson, and they were followed shortly thereafter when FC Cincinnati fired their first MLS manager, Alan Koch, after a slow start to their expansion campaign. Then later in May the New England Revolution made the split from Brad Friedel and swiftly named Bruce Arena their new head coach and sporting director.

MLS coaching turnover grinds on in 2019: Will it break the record again? - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/styles/image_landscape/s3/images/AlanKochdown.jpg

Alan Koch | USA Today Sports Images

Interim coach Conor Casey is still in charge of the Rapids, while Yoann Damet became the youngest MLS head coach in history, also on a temporary basis, until Ron Jans made his debut as the new FC Cincy manager last week.

There are short-term solutions in place in Houston and Real Salt Lake as well, with Davy Arnaud currently in charge of the Dynamo and Freddy Juarez guiding RSL to a 3-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in his midweek debut.

If that sounds like a lot of change, in a historical perspective it is. Prior to last year, it would've tied an MLS record for most changes in a season. However, 2018 blew that previous record out of the water. Here's a full look at each year that set or tied a new record for the most MLS coaching exits.

2018

Tata Martino (Atlanta United)
Gregg Berhalter (Columbus Crew SC)
Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas)
Sigi Schmid (LA Galaxy)
Patrick Vieira (New York City FC)
Jesse Marsch (New York Red Bulls)
Jason Kreis (Orlando City)
Mikael Stahre (San Jose Earthquakes)
Carl Robinson (Vancouver Whitecaps)

2017

Jay Heaps (New England Revolution)
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
Dominic Kinnear (San Jose Earthquakes)
Curt Onalfo (LA Galaxy)
Jeff Cassar (Real Salt Lake)