MLS Coaching Carousel Reshapes the League Ahead of the New Season
Major League Soccer has entered a decisive phase of its offseason, with every club now locking in a head coach and setting a clear direction for the year ahead. From headline reunions to high-risk promotions, the league’s coaching landscape has been significantly altered as teams position themselves for a return to contention.
The standout storyline is Tata Martino’s return to Atlanta United, a move that reconnects one of the club’s most successful eras with a present in need of stability. Elsewhere, Michael Bradley steps into his first senior managerial role at New York Red Bulls, while Columbus Crew turn to Henrik Rydstrom to succeed the influential Wilfried Nancy.
Several other clubs have opted for continuity or calculated gambles. LAFC promoted Marc Dos Santos from within, Sporting Kansas City entrusted a rebuild to Raphael Wicky, and Minnesota United turned to Cameron Knowles after losing Eric Ramsay to Europe. Not every appointment carries the same weight, but each reflects a deliberate response to recent successes or failures.
These decisions matter now because MLS parity leaves little margin for error. Coaching identity often defines results as much as squad quality, and with the new season approaching, clarity in philosophy is essential. Clubs that struggled last year are searching for structure, while contenders are protecting momentum.
The atmosphere around the league feels transitional rather than dormant. Front offices have been proactive, aware that early-season form often sets the tone for playoff qualification. Familiar faces returning to old roles sit alongside untested managers eager to make an immediate impression.
Key moments of risk stand out. Bradley’s rapid rise places heavy expectations on a Red Bulls side coming off its first missed postseason in 15 years. Rydstrom inherits a Columbus team molded almost entirely by Nancy’s vision. In Kansas City, Wicky faces the challenge of modernizing his ideas while overseeing a long-term rebuild.
Philosophies vary sharply. Martino brings controlled possession and attacking balance back to Atlanta. Bradley promises high pressing with evolving flexibility. Rydstrom introduces relationism built on positional overloads. Wicky favors ball dominance and structured shapes, while Knowles leans on defensive compactness and continuity.
As preseason preparations begin, attention will shift from résumés to results. Early tactical adjustments, locker room buy-in, and adaptation to MLS travel and rhythm will quickly expose which appointments were inspired and which were premature.
The real judgment will come once points are on the line, but the league’s coaching reset has already reshaped expectations. For some clubs, these hires represent a fresh start. For others, they are bets that could define the season ahead.