The big news is finally in:
TROY LESESNE will be DC United's new head coach. Troy, age 40, coached the New York Red Bulls last year, taking over in May after previous coach Gerhard Struber left and posting a record of 14 wins, 8 draws and 10 losses in all competitions. He was not offered a contract for 2024 by the Red Bulls, leaving him available for us. Troy reportedly is signing a three year contract.
Troy is from South Carolina and played college soccer at the College of Charleston (South Carolina) from 2001 to 2004. He played with the Charleston Battery in 2005 and 2006, and was an assistant coach at the College of Charleston from 2005 to 2014.
He then was an assistant coach for lower division professional clubs, first at the Charleston Battery in 2014, and then with the Charleston Independence (a USL expansion team at the time) from 2015 to 2018.
Troy then moved up to head coach at another expansion club, New Mexico United, where he stayed from 2018 through 2021, posting a record of 34 wins, 29 draws and 26 losses. He left New Mexico United after the 2021 season and became an assistant coach at the New York Red Bulls in January of 2022. He moved up to head coach of the Red Bulls in May 2023.
Welcome Troy!
Other news:
DC completed the transfer of midfielder Gabriel Pirani (shown above) from the Brazilian club Santos (Pele's old club). The transfer fee was significant ($1.3 million). Pirani played the last few months of 2023 on loan for DC. He is now signed to a 2 year contract with options for the two years after that.
Our last head coach, Wayne Rooney, has fallen on hard times; he was fired as coach of Birmingham City in England's Championship League (their second division) yesterday. Wayne took over Birmingham in October, but has won only two games and Birmingham dropped from 6th place to 20th place in the league under his tenure.
Also, DC may be going to Saudi Arabia for part of their preseason training. Preseason starts January 15.
The 2024 season opener is at home against New England on February 24.
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