Nico Estevez Out as FC Dallas Head Coach
The draw in Minnesota wasn't enough. Today, FC Dallas announced the departure of Nico Estevez as head coach. Peter Luccin steps in as interim.
In a move that is not all that shocking, FC Dallas announced that Nico Estevez has been relieved of duties effective immediately.
“It is always a difficult decision to part ways with your head coach. A great deal of thought and deliberation went into this move as it is still early in the season. We believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. “I want to thank Nico for everything he has done for the club, including some great playoff memories.”
Peter Luccin, formerly a player with the club and active at all levels as a coach, will step in as an interim. It sounds like additional staffing changes are on the way as Luccin puts together an interim team.
The decision comes after a dismal start to the season for FC Dallas, brought on by injuries but also sagging confidence and a formation switch that bored fans and TV commentators. It also comes in the wake of FC Dallas signing Petar Musa for a significant fee and launching a partnership with Benfica. Against a Minnesota United side that was missing as many as 9 players due to international call-ups, FC Dallas struggled to generate chances, going up against MLS Next Pro and homegrown players. It was hardly an inspiring match.
FC Dallas sits just above San Jose near the bottom of the Western Conference. No doubt, this decision leaves a bulk of the season ahead for FC Dallas to try to draw back into contention either under Luccin or another coach as the team moves forward.
A media conference will take place on Tuesday morning for Dan Hunt and Andre Zanotta to talk about what this means for the future as the team begins to look for their next head coach.
Why Nico, Why Now?
After talking with Nico Estevez in the last week on multiple occasions on a brutal road trip, a disconnect was evident. Nico was stuck in his preferred formation, relying on three center-backs and advanced wingbacks, despite the results being less than inspiring, routinely getting outshot and out-possessed by opponents. Even when the team struggled, he praised how close they were to breaking through. The team as a whole seemingly regressed in every statistic with the formation switch. The frustration on Saturday night was visible from guys like Musa and Ferreira.
There is tremendous pressure in the organization to utilize Musa, a significant signing that represents a bit of a departure for an organization that typically has shopped for bargains. Nico may have worn the patience thin from the front office. FC Dallas may not be the most talented roster in the league, but there are strong players to build around - Petar Musa, Jesus Ferreira, Maarten Paes, Marco Farfan, Liam Fraser, Patrickson Delgado, and Nkosi Tafari. Hunt and company decided they couldn’t wait any longer.
Who is next?
It’s a bit early to think about potential candidates to replace Nico, but some really solid possibilities wouldn’t require FC Dallas looking far afield.
Peter Luccin is a former professional player with an excellent resume and strong familiarity with FC Dallas. As interim, he can turn the team around and secure an opportunity to coach longer term.
Eric Quill, having won championships with North Texas SC, is now doing solid work with New Mexico United. He is a beloved presence and highly respected. Quill would relish the chance to return and lead FC Dallas.
John Gall is spearheading a revitalized North Texas Soccer Club and has deep roots locally and as far back as the Dallas Burn days. He is a motivator and could likely spur the team in a fresh direction, but it seems unlikely they would make this move so quickly while he is making strong progress with the reserve side.
We will bring additional coverage as the week unfolds.