DC United is close to a deal to name Troy Lesesne as its next head coach, sources briefed on the talks said. The Athletic.
Lesesne spent most of 2023 as head coach of the New York Red Bulls, promoted from assistant in May when Gerhard Struber left. The rising coach guided the Red Bulls to their MLS-record 14th consecutive postseason berth with a record of 10W, 9L and 4D. The Red Bulls did not renew his contract for 2024.
DC finalists included former NYCFC head coach Dome Torrent and former El Salvador coach Hugo Pรฉrez. Torrent and DC were nowhere near salary expectations, sources briefed on the talks said.
Lesesne helped rebuild a fractured Red Bulls locker room and was well regarded by many players. He played a high-pressure, transitional style of football aligned with Red Bull's overall philosophy.
The deal is a key move by new general manager Ally Mackay, who took over last month and began rebuilding the club. Thirteen players have already departed from the 2023 squad. Wayne Rooney was previously head coach when DC United missed the playoffs again in 2023, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with 40 points.
GO DEEPER
New DC United general manager Ally Mackay: "I want to try to make this team one that entertains"
Rooney left this winter and took charge of Birmingham City, but He was fired on Tuesday after just 15 games in charge.
The DC squad is led by forward Christian Benteke and midfielder Mateusz Klich. The club recently acquired Brazilian youth international Gabriel Pirani on a permanent transfer after the attacking midfielder originally joined the club on loan last summer. They also acquired right back Aaron Herrera from CF Montrรฉal and added Atlanta United academy product Garrison Tubbs in a trade.
Before joining the Red Bulls as an assistant ahead of the 2022 season, Lesesne served as head coach of New Mexico United from 2018 to 2021. He was named USL Championship Co-Coach of the Year in 2020.
(Photo: Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
