FRISCO, Texas — Clark Hunt hopes history repeats itself in 2020 with FC Dallas.
Nineteen days after the Hunt-owned Kansas City Chiefs captured their first Super Bowl in 50 years, Hunt was serving in his other role as Dallas chairman and CEO at Toyota Stadium, addressing the media while flanked by KC’s Lombardi Trophy.
And as he looks forward, he can't help but compare FCD's current situation to the Chiefs’ heading into last season. His brother Dan, who is co-owner of both teams and FCD's president, also made the reference earlier this week.
“Well, a little bit like the comparison I made last year with the Chiefs, having the disappointment in the playoffs. FC Dallas had a tremendous first season under Luchi (Gonzalez) and his new staff with a very young team,” Clark Hunt told MLSsoccer.com. “We’ll all remember the playoff game in Seattle where we took Seattle to overtime. We had a chance to win that game. And that game, that experience will help be a catalyst for the team.”
In 2019, FCD went 13-12-9 (48 points) and finished seventh in the Western Conference. And in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Dallas gave the eventual league champion Seattle Sounders all they could handle in a 4-3 extra time loss on October 19 at CenturyLink Field.
Dallas returns much of that squad for 2020. That includes 19-year-old Jesus Ferreira, who had eight goals and six assists in his first season as an MLS regular, and accomplished table setter Michael Barrios, who led the team with 15 assists and also scored five times. There's also 21-year-old midfielder Paxton Pomykal, who enjoyed a breakout 2019, and 21-year-old right back Reggie Cannon, who played himself into the US national team picture last year.
The club isn't deviating from their methodology of building from within through their academy in 2020, even as they add veteran midfielders like Fafa Picault and Thiago Santos, and eventually accomplished Liga MX striker Franco Jara into the mix.
“Of course, all those young players are back,” Hunt said. “They have a year more of experience and we’ve also brought in some experienced players, players who have had success in Brazil and in Mexico winning championships. I think those guys will really be able to help lift the club and hopefully get us over the hurdle.”
Amid interest from Europe, Hunt also said remains focused on getting Cannon signed to a contract extension.
“Well, made it a priority in the offseason of trying to lock up as many of our young players as possible,” Hunt said. “It’s our plan to build our team around those young players. Reggie’s certainly a key priority for us. Hopefully we’ll get that done here in the next few weeks.”
In the meantime, Hunt has Chiefs’ championship hardware in his back pocket to give his FC Dallas team a little extra motivation heading into 2020.
“I do plan to show them the Lombardi Trophy and tell them, 'Look, we got one already as a family in 2020 and now it’s your turn to go do it',” Hunt said.
