Grading Andre Zanotta

Let's look back at 2025 at signings, trades, and departures. How did Andre Zanotta do as Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director?

Andre Zanotta, FC Dallas’ Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director, is a polarizing figure among the fanbase. Some love him. Some hate him. Regardless, FC Dallas’ reputation on the global stage has grown since he took charge in 2019. You can’t deny what the former Grêmio Executive Director has brought to FC Dallas - an ability to get deals done. Look at his bio:

Under his direction, FC Dallas has broken its incoming transfer record twice with the acquisitions of Alan Velasco from Club Atlético Independiente in 2022 and Petar Musa from S.L. Benfica in 2024. Zanotta also helped Dallas set two outgoing transfer records with the sales of Homegrown products Bryan Reynolds to A.S. Roma in 2021 and Ricardo Pepi to FC Augsburg the following season.

As we look back at 2025, despite frustration over some decisions, we have to say it was another strong year from Zanotta. He opened up space, turned over a roster that had underperformed, and took some swings to help Eric Quill find success in his first year as a head coach. It wasn’t all pretty, but if Zanotta is getting more comfortable working MLS deals, watch out.

In other words, I don’t think he is going anywhere.

Here a number of deals that we rate highly:

Lucho Acosta Sale

Yeah, Acosta’s arrival in Frisco was a biggie. The year started with a bang when FC Dallas pursued and convinced the former MLS MVP to make the move to Frisco from Cincinnati. And then, well, we know what happened. The soccer product on the field was at best subpar. At worst, Dallas were “wooden spoon” contenders as Lucho rarely sparkled. The midfield suffered when he was out there, and in turn, the defense fell apart via bad turnovers and costly mistakes. If Acosta was still on the team and the front office had to eat a rumored renegotiated contract, this would have been a massive miss by the organization.

But, true to Zanotta’s skill, FC Dallas found a willing buyer in Fluminense when it was clear that Acosta needed another change of venue, and to top it off, the organization didn’t suffer a massive hit selling the mercurial attacking playmaker, getting $4 million back plus incentives. If certain metrics are hit, Dallas may make some profit from the deal. That beats the alternative. For a player who didn’t look MVP caliber anymore, this was a massive deal. Thanks be to Andre.

Osaze Urhoghide Transfer

When this transfer was announced, most of us spent the first few minutes trying to figure out who this guy was and how to pronounce his name, but once he stepped on the field, we found what FC Dallas had been looking for in an emotional and skilled center-back, not seen in Frisco since Nkosi Tafari’s glimmers of promise and before that Matt Hedges’ legendary run as a captain. It was clear right away that Osaze was excited to be in Dallas and a perfect fit for the kind of intense, physical play that Quill wants out of his guys.

What a signing. Can this team find another player like him? Let Zanotta cook.

Christian Cappis Transfer

At the time, Cappis’ arrival looked like a depth kind of summer signing, bringing one of Quill’s boys back home to North Texas to bolster a thin midfield. Some reports suggested that FC Dallas overpaid for the midfielder after some decent years in Denmark and Norwegia. If he had been a cheap, veteran depth guy, we would have been satisfied. In the end, Cappis brought the leadership and energy Quill had been looking for. His emergence was vital to the team’s late season run that got them into the playoffs. His transfer looks masterful — a bargain for a guy who is only 26 and can be a starter for years to come.

More importantly, he is one of Quill’s kind of guys.

Shaq Moore Trade

While there are specifics to this deal that could cause hardcore soccer nerds who pay attention to spreadsheets and roster rules to pause, Zanotta and the front office filled a massive hole on that right back position with a trade for Shaq Moore over the winter. Moore has flirted with US Men’s National Team appearances in his past and was an every-game starter with Nashville before arriving in Frisco. Still, looking back at the season, Moore started almost every game he was available. He brought consistency to a position that needed it. Sure, he may not have always been a difference maker, but no one denies he worked his ass off for the squad.

I used to give out Workhorse of the Year awards for the unsung heroes of FC Dallas rosters, and Shaq Moore would be deserving of that honor this year. He’s just been steady and ever-present in a season with injuries and inconsistency. Ultimately, this was a solid trade that helped FC Dallas improve. Credit to Zanotta.

Sam Sarver Signing

How involved was Andre Zanotta in the acquisition of MLS Next Pro MVP Sam Sarver? I wish I had an answer, since I don’t imagine that Zanotta spends a ton of time scouting the college ranks. I could be wrong!

When Sarver was drafted for North Texas SC, we have to assume that Zanotta at least played some part in taking a swing at the phenom through the SuperDraft. Sarver filled a need for North Texas as a slightly more experienced prospect, arriving in the pro ranks after four years at Indiana University. Did anyone expect the kind of year this kid would provide, though? As the kid lit up Next Pro, he turned out to be the easiest signing any front office would ever need to make. His arrival in the senior team had a significant impact in the locker room and on the field, despite playing limited minutes.

It’s just a gift, in the vein of Logan Farrington’s selection, that you welcome, and if Andre played any part at all, he deserves credit.

Marco Farfan & Leo Chu Sales

Of the departures this summer that haven’t really rattled us, one was expected, the other wasn’t. Both were a good bit of business.

First, Leo Chu was a sort an afterthought pick-up via the Jesus Ferreira trade, the kind of addition to make the finances and player spots work out. Chu gave Seattle plenty of appearances in his time up there, but it was clear that he had hit a ceiling. At the very least, Chu perhaps arrived with an opportunity to see if he might fit as a wing back or an outright winger in Quill’s plans, but it didn’t take long to realize there wasn’t anything there. By the summer, Chu stopped showing up on the bench, and the former Sounder was sold FC Alverca in Portugal. While I doubt FC Dallas got much in the sale, Zanotta got the deal done. Solid work.

Then, in a deal no one saw coming, Tigres came in with an offer for Marco Farfan, FC Dallas’ fixture at left back for the past three years. This is one of those dream-come-true deals for Mexican American kids. While Farfan still could contribute with FC Dallas or elsewhere in Major League Soccer, how could you turn down this opportunity for him, a player who has been a workhorse for this team, a guy who just went about his play without drama? Farfan was never a match-winner, but he was reliable, effective, and consistent. You need those guys. While sad to say goodbye, it’s also something I like about the FC Dallas system - when an opportunity arises, why stand in the way of a player taking that next step?

But what about the “misses”?

Yes, Lucho Acosta’s signing did not work the way the team wanted. I can’t place the blame on Zanotta for that, because lots of coaches and front offices would have taken a swing at such a talent. Could they have done more research? Could they have assembled the right kind of pieces around the mercurial attacker? Sure. Hindsight is 50/50 though.

Anderson Julio appeared initially to be a great fit for FC Dallas, but his importance on the team and his lack of production over the second half of the season wasn't up to par. Not a bad swing to take on a guy who has generally been a great and productive contributor most recently at Real Salt Lake. His future might be somewhat uncertain, though Dallas will likely need wingers next year. Can they lower his cap hit? Will he be part of a trade to some other team looking for a player with his ability?

Deedson is another big mystery, playing 1 minute after arriving later in the summer. The Haitian winger has still gotten call-ups to his national team, so that’s nice. Still, it’s hard to know what to expect. Will he get a chance to feature prominently and turn out to be a solid addition if the team shifts to play centered around two wingers? Was his inability to make an impact just about the timing and formation in Dallas? Does Quill think he is one of his guys?

Defensively, fans have grumbled about the centerback decisions, outside of Osaze. FC Dallas took the club option to extend Sebastian Ibeagha for another year at a price point that some fans would argue is way too high for the quality he provides. Throw Lalas Abubakar into that mix as well, although his salary went from around $800k to $400k somehow over the summer. While he can be a serviceable defender and a strong veteran presence, some of his mistakes were mystifying. Both defenders looked better by the year’s end, but they also got torched. Is that all on them? Hardly! As I mentioned above, the whole team looked a mess in the first half of the season.

Indeed, the defense requires significant improvement going into 2026. Could Zanotta have done more?

Zanotta Deserves Credit

Frankly, despite the misses and recognizing that this team is still a work-in-progress, Andre Zanotta did what was expected of him with the resources at his disposal and the means available to him in Major League Soccer. I give him a solid B+ for his work this past year. FC Dallas went from missing the playoffs last year to making them under a new coach and a fair share of drama. Expect some further turnover this offseason as a few other players make their departure.

But this offseason is the one to watch. Can FC Dallas target and bring in a DP or two to really raise the ceiling of this team? Will we see another high-profile departure like Maarten Paes? Can they swing another crucial in-league trade to give Quill all the tools he needs?

Let Zanotta cook.