Amid a disappointing season, Austin FC has parted ways with head coach Nico Estévez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell. The team finds itself near the bottom of the MLS standings, a stark contrast to their playoff participation just last season.
This decision follows a 2-1 home defeat to Sporting KC, the last-place team in the 15-team Western Conference, and a humiliating 5-0 loss at San Diego, which marked the worst defeat in the club’s history.
After this week’s games, the league will pause for two months due to the World Cup. Currently, Austin is ranked 13th with only three wins from 14 matches, far from playoff contention.
With playoff aspirations after reaching the postseason in 2025 during Estévez’s inaugural season, the club is now seeking a turnaround. Austin has only qualified for the playoffs twice since its inception in 2021.
“We believe this team has the potential to compete for a playoff spot, and given our results, a change is needed to meet our goals of playoff qualification and becoming a consistent contender,” said Anthony Precourt, the team’s founder and majority owner.
Borrell, who previously served as a top assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, faced challenges in managing player signings under MLS’s salary cap regulations compared to the financial capabilities of European clubs.
This season, Austin’s highest-paid players are wingers Facundo Torres ($3.4 million guaranteed) and Myrto Uzuni ($1.6 million guaranteed), as reported by the league’s players association. Torres has scored once in 14 matches, while Uzuni leads the team with five goals.
“We believe this decision serves the best interests of Austin FC. Our fans and community deserve a winning team, and our ownership group will continue to make impactful decisions to ensure consistent positive outcomes across competitions,” Precourt noted.
The club has announced that assistant coach Davy Arnaud will take over as interim head coach for Saturday’s match against St. Louis, though it remains unclear if he will lead the team beyond this game.