NYCFC, head coach Dome Torrent mutually agree to part ways

New York City FC and head coach Dome Torrent have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced Friday. 

Torrent took over the club in June 2018, replacing Patrick Vieira. He helped lead the team to a third place finish in the Eastern Conference as well as a playoff win. This season he lead the club to a franchise record of 64 points, topping the East as well as clinching a Concacaf Champions League berth.

“While I’ve greatly enjoyed coaching NYCFC and the incredible life experience of living in New York, in mutual discussion with the club, I feel this is the right time for myself and my family to look for other opportunities as I develop my career as a head coach," Torrent said in a statement. "I’d like to thank NYCFC for giving me this opportunity. I’ve learned a lot during my time at the Club after working with a fantastic Sporting Department and a great group of coaches."

Torrent, who was a longtime assistant of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, who are also part of City Football Group alongside NYCFC. 

There had been rumblings surrounding Torrent's future for some time, most recently popping up after the club were eliminated by Toronto FC in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs where the Spaniard cited some frustrations and downplayed his role in the club's success. 

“I’d like to sincerely thank Dome and the coaches for their hard work since joining NYCFC," vice chairman Marty Edelman said. "With Dome leading the team, we had an excellent regular season and we were extremely proud to finish top of the Eastern Conference. In discussions with Dome since our season finished, we’ve decided that this is the right moment for both parties to focus on new opportunities."

NYCFC have been linked with Giovanni van Bronckhorst to potentially take over at the club. Bronckhorst won five titles in four years at Feyenoord, his only full managerial role, before joining City Football Group.