Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman scored twice in Europe for the Under-19s as the junior Gunners succumbed to a 4-3 loss at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the UEFA Youth League. At just 15 years of age, Dowman is considered one of the brightest prospects in Europe and has already started to play under Mikel Arteta with the senior squad this season.

Dowman shines bright in Arsenal loss

Dowman featured in Arsenal U19's starting in the European clash against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday at Meadow Park. The Gunners took the lead through Harrison Dudziak's third-minute strike but Sergio Vinatea brought the visitors back into the game in the 17th minute. Dowman then scored his first goal of the day before the half-hour mark as Arsenal headed into the break with a 2-1 lead. The Gunners, however, failed to hold on to the lead for long as Sergio Esteban and Ruben Gomez scored in quick succession to put Atletico in front soon after the interval. 

Dowman then completed his double with a strike from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, but Jesus Barrios scored the winning goal two minutes to clinch a seven-goal thriller for the Spanish club. This was the Gunners' third successive loss in the UEFA Youth League.

AdvertisementAFP15-year-old sensation already in Arsenal's first team

Even before turning 16, Dowman has made a name for himself and has caught Arteta's eye already. He has been training with the senior squad for nearly a year and trained with the first team at the start of the week. Arteta earlier kept Dowman in his matchday squads as an unused substitute in the Gunners' previous Champions League encounters against Athletic Club and Olympiacos. The teenager has also featured off the Arsenal bench in their Premier League clashes against Leeds and Liverpool in the Premier League as well as versus Port Vale in the Carabao Cup. 

However, despite his promising performances, Arteta is being very protective about the wonderkid and is using him sparingly before giving him full-fledged exposure to the senior professional game. Just a week ago, Dowman became the youngster player to score for England U19s as they saw off Wales 7-0.

Dowman created Premier League 2 record

Last month, the Gunners sensation created history in the Premier League 2. At the age of 15 years and 263 days, Dowman became the youngest player to score a goal in competition's history, a record which was previously held by another Hale End youth graduate in Reiss Nelson.

After the game, Dowman and his team-mates garnered praise from Arsenal U21 head coach Max Porter, who told the club's official website: "I think it was a bit of a roller coaster. We were 2-0 down and had given away two poor goals from our standards, which was obviously disappointing, but I've got to praise the group, really. The reason I say the group is because it wasn't just the ones on the pitch, it was the players that came on. Our first-team manager, Mikel, mentioned the other week about the importance of finishers. All around, from the players on the pitch and the ones that came on to finish the game, they showed huge courage, they pushed themselves physically, and in the end, we got what we deserved from the game. Even in the first half, even though we weren't as good as the second, I think there were still moments we could have scored. So, we're really delighted because I think the group, particularly the ones that played midweek, showed a huge response, which we want to keep going."

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Getty Images SportArsenal seniors ran riot against Atletico

While the junior side failed to beat Atletico, later on Tuesday, the senior side avenged that defeat in style as they thrashed Diego Simeone's side 4-0 in the Champions League at Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli handed Arteta's team a two-goal lead at the start of the second half before Viktor Gyokeres completed the rout with a double. 

Manchester United were swept aside by their neighbours in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

There’s no sugarcoating it: Ruben Amorim has some serious issues to overcome, and the whispers of yet another managerial change at Old Trafford are getting louder.

The Etihad Stadium is a tough ground for any club across the globe, and United have a good record on their rivals’ patch, but the manner of the 3-0 defeat to keep Amorim shackled to the lower levels of the Premier League has increased the pressure and then some. Chelsea, you will need no reminder, travel to the Theatre next weekend.

Benjamin Sesko blanked, but the blame cannot be placed solely upon the new striker, devoid of service and limited to seven touches. Sofascore record the Slovenian’s heat map to actually be rather deep, evidence of struggles within a barren final third.

But INEOS spent big on the 23-year-old goalscorer this summer, and the fact that thus far Amorim is failing to get a tune out of him and indeed the wider United system is hugely concerning.

Benjamin Sesko's performance vs City

Amorim doubled down post-match on his plan to maintain the tactical set-up which has proved such a troubling talking point over the turbulent duration of the Portuguese’s reign.

While Sesko was completely anonymous against Pep Guardiola’s outfit, he was indeed starved of support. Hemmed in United were not, but they were inefficient on the counter and struggled for purchase in the final third.

This was a tough maiden starting berth in the Premier League for a young and talented striker, one who opted for Old Trafford in spite of the vested interests of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United last month.

Sesko wasn’t blameless. The former RB Leipzig man made a couple of heavy touches and should have made more of his chance against Gigi Donnarumma, chipping tamely toward the debutant goalkeeper.

Bought over from Germany for a £74m fee this summer to replace Rasmus Hojlund, there are perhaps concerns from some on the red side of Manchester that INEOS have just repeated the same mistake.

But it’s early days yet. And, in fact, there was another starting star on Sunday who might actually be shaping into Amorim’s next version of the Denmark centre-forward, who joined Napoli on loan before the transfer deadline several weeks back.

Amorim's new Hojlund at Man United

Without a doubt, Hojlund fell by the wayside at Manchester United. It was only two years ago that Erik ten Hag welcomed the young forward to England, signing him from Atalanta on a £72m deal.

The 22-year-old’s first term was solid if unspectacular, but he fell to a new low last year, ridiculed for his anonymity at number nine, scoring just four Premier League goals all season.

Sesko will be directly tied to his predecessor all year long, but it’s actually Patrick Dorgu who might be shaping into the new Hojlund.

Dorgu, 20, has been spun into a wing-back role in Amorim’s 3-5-2-1 formation, and it’s not working. For one, his crosses leave plenty to be desired, and he is proving ineffective despite operating within the exact tactical parameters Amorim demands of him.

To put that another way, the Danish wideman might not be the solution, which is rather damning given Amorim championed the £25m signing of the Lecce talent last January to help define the system he so firmly stresses will shape United for the duration of his tenure.

It wasn’t all bad in the derby; Dorgu was right in the thick of the action, but his crossing was woeful, and the Manchester Evening News branded him with a 4/10 match rating.

Man Utd – Most Touches in Att. Box – 25/26
Player	Opponent	Touches
Patrick Dorgu	Man City	12
Bryan Mbeumo	Burnley	9
Joshua Zirkzee	Burnley	9
Bryan Mbeumo	Man City	9
Amad Diallo	Burnley	7
Data via Sky Sports

According to data platform Sofascore, Dorgu won 11 duels, created three key passes and won four tackles against Man City, but this wasn’t enough to disguise a pitiful attempt to inject creativity into Amorim’s ranks, with analyst Dharnish Iqbal remarking that he “hasn’t provided the crosses” despite being funnelled the ball with regularity.

Dorgu, let’s be clear, is a talented young player with the potential to succeed in the Premier League. Hojlund was the same, both arriving from Italian shores. But he seems to have taken on a talismanic role in Amorim’s system that he is unfit for, and so the Portuguese tactician falls ever closer toward the exit.

Given the seeming importance of Dorgu’s role – much like Hojlund’s limp displays last season came to the direct detriment of United’s wider system – it’s rather concerning that he doesn’t appear fit for the role, only completing one of five attempted dribbles against the Citizens as a further underscoring of that argument.

Sesko will often be scapegoated; this is the life of a forward. However, he’s a tall striker and won three aerial battles against City. Even so, Dorgu struggled to provide accurate crosses having been played into space, and that is an issue.

Hojlund, similarly, suffered more criticism than most last term, but he didn’t miss that many big chances, and United were culpable of a dried well of support toward the young man.

Dorgu has already shown this season an aptitude for the attacking side of the game, but so too has he proven himself unworthy of a nailed-on starting berth, and that is exactly what Amorim has entrusted him with, with this being the Dane’s third full 90 of the Premier League campaign already.

Might Amorim need to make an alteration? Wing-backs are instrumental in the manager’s machine working at full capacity, and so his reliance on Dorgu is understandable.

But it doesn’t appear to be working well enough, and if that is the case, and Amorim is unwilling to change, as has been his own declaration, then where do the Red Devils go from here?

Man Utd have two players to blame for Sesko's nightmare first start

Benjamin Sesko was an isolated figure during his first start for Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 15, 2025

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Com a vitória por 2 a 0 contra o Corinthians, o São Paulo reverteu a derrota sofrida na casa do rival e se garantiu na final da Copa do Brasil. Dominando quase toda a partida e com bastante pressão em cima do adversário, os mais de 62 mil presentes no estádio do Morumbi contaram com os golaços de Wellington Rato e Lucas Moura. Lucas, que inclusive, foi o grande nome da noite.

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Quanto ao desempenho, um jogão. Embora tenha tido mais chances claras de matar o jogo, conseguiu corresponder e pressionou o Corinthians por boa parte do confronto. Estaria o sonho do título inédito prestes a ser tornar realidade? Veja as atuações individuais dos jogadores!

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Tottenham summer signing Xavi Simons made his Champions League debut for the Lilywhites on Tuesday in a 1-0 victory over Villarreal, featuring on the left-hand side yet again as opposed to in the number 10 role.

Xavi Simons' mixed first two games for Tottenham

Simons, after failed summer moves for both Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, arrived at Spurs during the final days of the window as fans rejoiced over finally signing a replacement for the injured James Maddison.

Micky van de Ven

7.4/10

Djed Spence

7.3/10

Rodrigo Bentancur

7.3/10

Mohammed Kudus

7.2/10

Santiago Mourino

7.1/10

via WhoScored

The Dutchman’s signing may cost a club-record £125 million, once you factor in transfer cost, wages and add-ons spread over his potential seven-year contract (Paul O’Keefe), so the pressure is on for him to deliver.

Simons is already off the mark with his first assist for Tottenham after swinging in a corner for Pape Sarr to head home in their 3-0 London derby win at West Ham last weekend, but he struggled against Villarreal in Europe.

The 22-year-old was unconvincing out wide and was fairly fortunate not to be shown a red card after bringing down Nicolas Pepe on the counter-attack, having already been booked, with members of the media branding Simons “unconvincing”.

That being said, he did display flashes of true quality and cut-in from the left with a few dangerous efforts, but Thomas Frank has been told he must unlock Simons.

Interestingly, Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard recently drew attention to attitude concerns surrounding the attacker, after hearing certain rumours in Germany, but so far, there is nothing to suggest Frank will have a problem with this.

Spurs legend Rafael van der Vaart also tipped Simons to be world-class all the way back in 2023, and journalist Suleyman Ozturk has now shared a similar view when speaking on Voetbal’s latest ‘Tour of Europe’ episode.

Xavi Simons insight shared after Tottenham message from Thomas Frank

Commenting on Frank’s recent claim that Simons can play on the left regularly, Ozturk shared what he’s noticed about the forward when he picks up the ball out wide – tipping him to become a “sensation” at Tottenham.

The former PSG starlet, who was also a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, dazzled for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

One of Frank’s major tasks in his debut Tottenham season is getting the best out of Simons, with the player’s versatility likely meaning we’ll see him utilised in more positions as Spurs’ boss experiments throughout 25/26.

India head coach says his personal opinion is that even matches at neutral venues should stop after the Pahalgam terror attack

PTI06-May-2025India head coach Gautam Gambhir has called for a complete halt to cricketing engagements with Pakistan, including at neutral venues, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.”My personal answer to this is absolutely no,” Gambhir, speaking at an event in Delhi on Tuesday, said when asked whether India should continue playing Pakistan in multi-team tournaments. “Till all this [terrorism] doesn’t stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan.”Twenty-six people were killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22. Since then, the government of India has announced several measures against Pakistan, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down of the border crossing at Attari, and downgrading of diplomatic ties in view of cross-border links to the attack.India have not played a bilateral series against Pakistan since January 2013 and have only played them at multi-nation tournaments such as the Asia Cup and the ICC events. They most recently played each other at the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and could possibly face each other in the women’s ODI World Cup and men’s Asia Cup later this year, and the men’s T20 World Cup in 2026.”Ultimately, this is [the] government’s decision whether we play them or not,” Gambhir said. “I have said this before also, no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens. Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform, but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family.”This is not up to me, it’s not in my jurisdiction, this is for BCCI and, more importantly, the government to decide whether we should play them or not,” Gambhir said. “Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it.”‘A coach’s job isn’t selecting the team’Gambhir also said he would have no role in deciding whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are picked for the upcoming five-Test tour of England, which begins in June. Both batters had struggled for runs during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in December-January but played important roles in India winning the Champions Trophy earlier this year.”First things first, a coach’s job isn’t selecting the team. It is the job of selectors to select,” Gambhir said. “The coach only selects the XI who will play a match. Neither those who coached before me were selectors, nor am I a selector.”Till the time they [Kohli and Rohit] are performing, they should be a part of the team. When you start and when you end is your individual decision. No coach, no selector, no BCCI can tell you when you should call it quits. If you perform, then why 40, you can jolly well play till 45, who’s stopping you?”

Usman Qadir impressed with the ball to derail Islamabad’s chase

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-May-2025

Faheem Ashraf scored 45 off just 23 balls•Pakistan Super League

Finn Allen, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, and Faheem Ashraf crashed significant scores at a strike rate of better than 150. And when these four batters had propelled Quetta Gladiators to a total of 209 for 6, their bowlers locked the game down through the middle overs, sending Islamabad United eventually to 179 all out.Gladiators advance to the final, deservedly. Not only have they won this match by a significant margin, they had also easily topped the league ahead of the playoffs, winning seven of their ten matches. United now have to face the winner of Thursday night’s eliminator – between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars – in Qualifier 2.The Chandimal-Ashraf spectacularIf you want one reason why Gladiators bossed this game, it is the period between overs 11.6 and 19.5, when Chandimal and Ashraf were at the crease. Chandimal clobbered 48 not out off 28 balls, Ashraf hit 45 off 23, and the pair (to use a Gen Z term) “twinned” on the boundary count – hitting three sixes and four fours apiece. Their partnership was worth 95 runs off 48 balls.Chandimal, as usual, was strong on the leg side, that powerful bottom hand coming into play, though he also sliced a boundary through backward point when United had stacked the off side and James Neesham was attempting to bowl wide yorkers.Ashraf was just as impressive. He was strong on the leg side too, but when bowlers attempted to go full and wide, he crashed them over the cover region as well.United’s top order make a chargeThere were a few moments in which it seemed not impossible that United could run down a target of 210. These came almost exclusively during the first 14 overs. First, Sahibzada Farhan and Rassie van der Dussen hit 71 off 45 balls together. Farhan went on to make 52 off 35 – the highest individual score of the game and his sixth T20 half-century.No. 4 batter Salman Agha then produced a little gem too, scything 44 off 26, but found little support at the other end. When he departed, with 16 balls to go and 42 runs still to get, there were no more viable paths to victory for United.Usman Tariq imposes himselfMohammad Amir and Ashraf took two wickets apiece, but it was offspinner Usman Tariq who inflicted the more telling blows. His first wicket – that of Farhan – was slightly lucky. Farhan had merely mis-hit a leg side full toss but found Khawaja Nafay running in from the deep.But then there was also the wicket of Salman, which was down to a piece of utilitarian T20 bowling, going fast and wide outside off stump to a batter trying to smash to leg, resulting in a top edge gobbled up at long-on. To cap it off, he also had Naseem Shah caught in the deep. He finished with 3 for 32, which were his figures in his previous game as well.He outshone both Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed, who are now both equal second on the tournament wicket-takers’ list, with 16 apiece.

Reporter Graham Smyth has shared a “concern” he has about one Leeds United star, who has now been dropped by manager Daniel Farke.

Leeds off to solid start despite Bournemouth setback

Conceding a late equaliser is always a kick in the teeth, and Farke will be disappointed that his side were unable to hold on for all three points against AFC Bournemouth, especially given that the German believes they did enough to get the win.

The Leeds manager said: “We had a really good game. I think we deserved to win this game. “At this level, small details can be punished. It is pretty heartbreaking, but I am proud of the performance.”

It was not the first time this season the Whites have conceded in stoppage time, with a Gabriel Gudmundsson own-goal gifting Fulham a victory at Craven Cottage earlier this month, but Farke should be happy with the start his side have made to the Premier League season regardless.

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The only game in which the newly-promoted team weren’t competitive was away at Arsenal, suffering a 5-0 battering against Mikel Arteta’s side, but otherwise they have looked solid, picking up eight points in their opening six matches.

Leeds started the campaign with a 1-0 win over Everton at Elland Road, with Ao Tanaka receiving the Player of the Match award for his efforts, but the 27-year-old has since fallen down the pecking order, appearing as a late substitute in the past two matches after returning from injury.

Smyth has subsequently shared a concern he has about Tanaka, with the journalist saying on The Square Ball Podcast (via The Leeds Press): “My concern with Tanaka was physicality in the Premier League.

“He got run over a few times towards the end of the last season. I worried a little bit, against the most elite athletes in the Premier League.”

Tanaka may have work cut out reclaiming his starting spot

After suffering an injury against Arsenal, the Japanese maestro lost his place in the side, with Sean Longstaff being brought in, and the former Newcastle United man has certainly made an impressive start.

In the draw against Bournemouth, Longstaff opened his account by scoring the goal to put Leeds into the lead, while also setting up Joe Rodon’s equaliser, in what was a well-rounded performance from the central midfielder, who received a 9.3 SofaScore match rating.

Statistic

Number completed

Big chances created

2

Tackles

6

Accurate crosses

7

Duels won

10

In fairness, Tanaka made a solid start against Everton, having picked up the Player of the Match Award, so he should get another chance to prove himself, but Longstaff has already shown that he could be crucial to Leeds’ survival chances.

They might be in the relegation zone and have a single win from their last five Premier League games, but the future could be bright for West Ham United.

Granted, things off the pitch and the relationship between the ownership and fans are in a dire state, but with Nuno Espírito Santo now in the dugout, there is a feeling that he could steer the side to a respectable finish this season.

Moreover, while they have not performed well enough, there is real talent in this squad, with summer signing Soungoutou Magassa being someone who could explode with the right coaching.

On top of that, there are several truly exciting players in the academy, including one who could be unreal with the Frenchman and has been compared to former Hammer Mohamed Diamé.

Why West Ham signed Magassa

In late August, West Ham completed the £17.3m signing of Magassa, and while it was undoubtedly done with the intention of him making an impact this season, it also feels like a move that could help make the midfield so much better in the long term.

The simple reason for this is that the incredible Frenchman is brilliant when it comes to the defensive and offensive side of the game – he is someone who can shield the backline, but also spring attacks for his side.

For example, the respected analyst Ben Mattinson has claimed that the Stains-born gem has an immense ability to “spray passes wide out to the wings” but that he’s also got very “high potential” for playing as a six “due to how he reads the game and his pure athleticism.”

Likewise, U23 scout Antonio Mango has highlighted how “strong in both offensive and defensive duels” the youngster is.

This ability to excel in both parts of the game is unsurprisingly represented in his underlying numbers.

Magassa’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Dribbles Challenged

3.59

Top 1%

Dribblers Tackled

1.80

Top 2%

Blocks

2.07

Top 2%

Ball Recoveries

6.98

Top 3%

Passes Blocked

1.52

Top 4%

Tkl+Int

4.84

Top 4%

Tackles

3.25

Top 6%

Interceptions

1.59

Top 7%

Switches

0.76

Top 8%

Tackles (Def 3rd)

1.38

Top 8%

Through Balls

0.41

Top 11%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.48

Top 11%

Shots Blocked

0.55

Top 12%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.38

Top 14%

Touches (Def 3rd)

17.28

Top 14%

Touches (Def Pen)

3.59

Top 15%

Successful Take-On %

61.9%

Top 15%

Goals/Shot

0.13

Top 17%

All Stats via FBref

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for dribblers tackled and blocks, the top 3% for ball recoveries, the top 8% for switches, the top 11% for through balls and more, all per 90.

In short, Magassa is an excellent prospect, and in more good news, West Ham could have another gem who’d be brilliant alongside him, someone who has been compared to Diame.

West Ham's ideal teammate for Magassa

There are several exciting prospects currently plying their trade in West Ham’s academy, from Josh Landers to Preston Fearon.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

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However, only one youngster has been compared to former Hammer Diame, which is Mohamadou Kanté.

The promising Frenchman joined the club from Paris FC last summer, but remained in the French capital for the season, where he made eight appearances in what turned out to be a promotion-winning campaign.

Described as having “good anticipation” and being “very calm and composed on the ball” by one analyst, another has been bolder, claiming he “moves like Mo Diame.”

The argument behind such a comparison is that, like the retired midfielder, the youngster has “long-ranging legs that eat up ground & extend to win the ball off the toes of the opposition.”

However, he’s more than just a tenacious ball-winner, with the same analyst highlighting his “nibble feet & intelligent, composed passing.”

It’s the combination of all these traits that have seen him rack up an impressive tally of two goals and two assists in just eight appearances for the U21s so far this season.

Moreover, as he’s comfortable playing in central and defensive midfield, he could end up being a brilliant partner for Magassa, with one driving forward and the other sitting back to help the defence.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his West Ham career, but Kante looks to be a real star in the making.

Related West Ham hope of signing "special" striker amid Nuno's damning Fullkrug update

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 17, 2025

Ebadot Hossain returns to the Bangladesh team for the first time in almost two years, after being named in the 16-man squad for the two Tests against Sri Lanka later this month. He has recovered from an ACL surgery after he was injured during an ODI against Afghanistan in July 2023. Litton Das also returns to the Test side after he was given time off during the Zimbabwe series in April.The selectors, meanwhile, have dropped Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanvir Islam and Tanzim Hasan for the Sri Lanka Tests. Taskin Ahmed couldn’t be fit in time for the Test series as he recovers from an ankle injury.Ebadot’s return, however, is good news. He played 27 competitive matches in the 2024-25 season including three first-class matches. He played one of those against the visiting New Zealand A side last month. The 31-year-old Ebadot has taken 42 wickets in 20 Tests so far.Left-arm spinner Hasan Murad returns to the Test side too, after he was in the squad against South Africa and West Indies last year. Murad played only three first-class matches in the past season, as he was touring with the senior team during the 2024-25 National Cricket League.Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will kick off the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. Bangladesh drew their last Test series, against Zimbabwe at home, in April.Bangladesh are likely to arrive in Sri Lanka on June 13, with their first Test in Galle from June 17. The second Test is at the Singhalese Sports Club Cricket ground in Colombo from June 25. The Tests are followed by three ODIs and three T20Is, with the tour ending on July 16.IN: Litton Das, Hasan Murad, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled AhmedOUT: Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tanvir Islam, Tanzim Hasan SakibBangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mahidul Islam, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Hasan Murad, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Khaled Ahmed

Seven MLS teams are searching for a new coach, and more jobs could open after the playoffs – GOAL ranks the openings

Major League Soccer clubs have been criticized in the past for being overly patient with their coaches. That's clearly no longer the case. Last season there was a record 12 head coach openings across the league, and if current trends hold, that number could be matched – or even surpassed – by the end of the playoffs.

So far, eight teams have already made managerial changes, and a ninth, LAFC, has announced that Steve Cherundolo will depart following the postseason. Two of those positions have been filled, with D.C. United hiring René Weiler and CF Montreal promoting Marco Donadel from interim status.

But with several other clubs expected to make changes, this offseason promises to be one of the busiest – and most intriguing – in recent MLS history. Of course, not all coaching vacancies are created equal. This year’s openings range from some of the league’s most ambitious projects to some of its most chaotic situations.

GOAL ranks the vacancies based on their appeal to prospective managers.

Getty Images Sport7St. Louis CITY SC

2025 record: 8W-18L-8T

2025 payroll (via Sportrac): $17.1 million (17th in MLS)

Change: Olof Mellberg was dismissed on May 28, becoming the third manager to lose his job in the 2025 season. 

Pros: Energizer Park is one of the best, if not the best, venues in MLS, and the team's training facilities are also state-of-the-art. St. Louis is also backed by a loyal and boisterous fan base. The city is still bitter over losing the NFL's Rams to Los Angeles, and they seemingly show up in droves to support their soccer club. 

Cons: It has gone downhill from a strong first season, in which they topped the Western Conference standings heading to the 2023 postseason. Since the club was shocked by rivals Sporting KC, they have been rudderless. St. Louis' ownership hasn't made the right choices when it comes to leadership. The team moved on too quickly from Bradley Carnell as manager, who could win Coach of the Year this season. They then hired Olof Mellberg seemingly out of nowhere. This is a team that desperately needs an sure hand in both the front office and at head coach. 

In addition, St. Louis – the city itself – doesn't have free agency appeal as some of the other vacancies.

Current star player: Roman Bürki. The former Dortmund goalkeeper is the face of the franchise and just re-upped with the club, becoming a rare Designated Player.

Ideal candidate: Someone who can build a proactive identity and a strong culture. Gio Savarese and Peter Vermes would fill that bill. Until the last two seasons, Sporting KC were consistently successful despite being a small-market team. They developed promising young talents year after year, and St. Louis needs that foundation – especially considering the city's penchant for producing USMNT talent. 

AdvertisementImagn6Colorado Rapids

2025 record: 11W-15L-8T

2025 payroll (via Sportrac): $14.2million (26th in MLS)

Change: Chris Armas and the Rapids mutually parted ways on Oct. 27 after the team missed the 2025 playoffs.

Pros: The Denver metro area may not be a magnet for global stars, but its mountains and quality of life remain selling points – especially for American players abroad. Over the years, the club has attracted names such as Tim Howard, Zack Steffen, Djordje Mihailovic, and now Paxten Aaronson.

At the center of it all is general manager Padraig Smith, who has maximized limited resources. One of MLS’s most respected executives, Smith  built value through savvy trades and modest transfers (see: Rafa Navarro). After years of searching for an identity, he appears to have bet on a USMNT-centric recruitment strategy that gives Colorado a clear direction.

Cons: It’s easy to forget the Rapids topped the Western Conference in 2021 under Robin Fraser – with an even smaller payroll. Since then, they’ve reached the postseason only once and finished near the bottom two years ago. Their last three full-time managers – Anthony Hudson, Fraser, and Armas – all arrived with optimism (and flashes of success) but left citing frustrations around roster building and internal challenges.

The team’s biggest issue remains proactive investment. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, once a league showcase, now feels dated, and players reportedly filed a complaint about inadequate training facilities two years ago. If Smith can secure spending closer to league average, the Rapids could quickly climb back into contention.

Current star player: Paxten Aaronson. His arrival was a statement signing. The 2024 Eredivisie Young Player of the Year runner-up brings creativity and energy to become a top-10 MLS player. Like his brother Brenden, he’s a tweener, neither an attacking midfielder or a deep-lying playmaker. Finding the right role for him will be crucial,

Ideal candidate: Colorado’s next coach needs to be its version of Minnesota United’s Eric Ramsay – someone who prioritizes tactics and finds inventive ways to win despite payroll limitations. The Rapids have some quality pieces worth building around, gut need a manager who can make them fit.

Getty Images Sport5New England Revolution

2025 record: 9W-16L-9T

2025 payroll (via Sportrac): $17.2million (16th in MLS)

Change: The Revs moved on from Caleb Porter after a disappointing two-year tenure on Sept. 15. 

Pros: After years of being perceived as frugal, the Kraft family – owners of the successful New England Patriots in the NFL – opened the checkbook. They might not be in the top 10 in spending, but moves such as signing Luca Langoni and Dor Turgeman show this group is willing to make bets on this team.

Former USMNT No. 1 Matt Turner is on board for another season and should be motivated in a World Cup year. New England has some of the most passionate sports fans in the country. And the team has a relatively new training center, which cost $35M. 

Cons: Biggest question of the 2025 season: Was it poor coaching or poor roster management? While Porter ultimately flamed out at both the Timbers and Crew, he usually sees success in his first two years – which made his struggles at New England so alarming. This team has been on a tailspin since Bruce Arena's departure in 2023. The 2026 season is going to answer a lot of questions about the young core. 

The stadium is another challenge. Gillette Stadium is iconic for the NFL, but it's a cavernous ground for soccer. The Revs regularly draw 24,777 fans a game – seventh in MLS – but optically the home support looks sparse.

Current star player: Carles Gil. Luca Langoni has a ton of potential, but remains unproven, so Gil is the answer. Last year he had a strong 10-goal, 14-assist season.

Ideal candidate: After betting big on two matter-of-fact former MLS Cup-winning coaches, Arena and Porter, it might be time for the club to seek a manager who is a strong man manager. Former Union boss Jim Curtin would have been perfect, but he reportedly turned down the job. It has also been reported that former Austin FC coach Josh Wolff is interested.

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Imagn4Sporting Kansas City

2025 record: 7W-20L-7T

2025 payroll (via Sportrac): $17.7 million (15th in MLS)

Change: Vermes was the second manager fired in the 2025 season, with the club severing ties after he guided the club for almost 16 years. 

Pros: Children's Mercy Park, built in 2011, remains one of MLS's best venues with a fanbase that brings it every match – regardless of where the team sits in the standings. The team's academy continually produces promising young players who step into the first team. This is also one of the league's more progressive ownership groups, willing to take risks – remember, they reportedly tried to recruit Cristiano Ronaldo to the Midwest. They also ambitiously signed executive David Lee from NYCFC. 

Cons: Kansas City shares similar challenges with St. Louis in recruiting free agents. Outside of Dejan Joveljic and Jake Davis, this is a team that  needs an injection of talent. Lee has shown he can build young, successful teams, but it's easier to sell emerging international talent on the Big Apple than the BBQ Capital of the World. 

Current star player: Dejan Joveljic. SKC went big in its move forJoveljic, prying the star striker away from the LA Galaxy in Vermes's attempt to bring the team back to contention. Questions were raised over whether the Serbian's success last year was a part of playing within the champions' deep squad. This year, he proved he is a star on his own, with 18 goals. 

Ideal candidate: Lee traditionally hired foreign managers from Europe at NYCFC, so expect that to continue. One name to watch could be Patrick Vieria, especially if Genoa continue to sit 20th in Serie A. Lee and Vieria worked together at NYCFC.