Which MLS head coaches are on the hot seat ahead of the 2024 season?
- Several coaches have yet to lift a trophy after a few years in charge
- A high profile name on the list has enjoyed success but still remains under pressure
- 2024 MLS season begins on February 21 with Inter Miami taking on Real Salt Lake
Although a ball hasn't been kicked in the 2024 season, there are already a handful of coaches who are under pressure to deliver results with their respective clubs.
There are several bosses on the list who've already won a trophy at their club, but that won't be enough to satisfy certain ownership groups that heavily invest as well as having star players in the squad. Others have shown promise with their clubs but have yet to win anything.
Here are five coaches who are on the hot seat ahead of the 2024 MLS season.
5. Gerardo 'Tata' Martino
This might seem far-fetched at first, but when it's broken down, it actually makes a lot of sense.
For starters, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino doesn't usually stay in one place for too long. Prior to joining Miami, he was with the Mexican national team for three years, with Atlanta United for two seasons and with Barcelona for just one season.
Martino delivered silverware roughly two months after taking the reigns at Miami in the form of Leagues Cup. But there's no getting around the fact that managing a club with a global presence like the Herons comes at a price: Being expected to win every trophy possible with a player like Lionel Messi in your squad.
Another point to consider is that Martino's side looked all over the place in the Herons' international tour - but it was just preseason friendlies, right? Hopefully, for Martino's sake, Miami can knock the rust off in time for their season opener.
4. Nick Cushing - New York City FC
Like Martino, Nick Cushing has delivered silverware - 2022 Campeones Cup - but was unable to right the ship in 2023 as his side finished in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points.
NYCFC nearly clawed their way into a playoff position, but it was too little too late. A club as big as NYCFC, who are part of the City Football Group, can't afford to be left out of the playoffs for a second straight season.
Cushing has managed a 21W-19D-24L record since taking over as interim boss back in the summer of 2022. He guided the Boys in Blue to a third place finish in 2022, but another regular season failure could see him lose his position in the Big Apple.
3. Gary Smith - Nashville SC
Gary Smith has done a great job as the first head coach in Nashville SC's history. But the ownership can't let their emotions and nostalgia cloud their decision making when it comes to the leader of the club on the pitch.
Smith has registered a 59W-47D-41L record while in charge of the Coyotes, and he's come so close to leading the team to glory - see the 2023 Leagues Cup final.
If Nashville start off strong again but then falter toward the end of the season, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see the powers that be decide to go a different route regarding the head coaching position for 2025.
2. Josh Wolff - Austin FC
This shouldn't really come as a surprise. Wolff was on the hot seat for nearly all of last season as his side finished in 12th place in the Western Conference with 39 points.
Like a lot of recent MLS expansion sides, Austin FC started off in a difficult moment in 2021 before leaping to a second place finish in 2022, as the Verde and Black were eliminated in the Western Conference finals that year at the hands of eventual champions LAFC.
Wolff's record also isn't the greatest: 39W-21D-52L. He gets a pass for the struggles in 2021 as it was the club's inaugural season; But if another near-basement finish happens again this season, you can expect to see Wolff without a job six months from now.
1. Greg Vanney - LA Galaxy
I think most people can agree that LA Galaxy boss Greg Vanney is the MLS coach under the most pressure after he's managed a 42W-29D-43L record in three seasons in charge.
When Vanney was hired in January 2021, he firmly believed he could take the Galaxy back to MLS Cup winning ways in three years. Spoiler alert: He didn't.
Vanney nearly willed LA into a postseason spot in 2021 but missed out on goal difference. He then guided the Galaxy to a fourth place finish in 2022 before his team bowed out in the playoffs to LAFC in the Western Conference semifinals.
A postseason exit to their bitter rivals, coupled with the 13th place finish in 2023 (his team had terrible injury luck, to be fair), means that if Vanney doesn't bring the Galaxy back to the playoffs with a deep run, he'll more than likely be shown the door by the higher-ups at Dignity Health Sports Park.