CF Montreal fired head coach Hernan Losada and assistant coach Sebastian Setti on Thursday, just a few weeks after the Main League Soccer workforce completed two factors wanting the playoff cutline.
The seek for a brand new head coach was underway, the membership mentioned Thursday in a launch.
Montreal completed tenth within the Japanese Convention this previous season with 41 factors and a 12-17-5 file.
CF Montreal vice-president and chief sporting officer Olivier Renard was scheduled to carry a media availability later Thursday.
Losada, a 41-year-old from Argentina, took over later that month on a two-year contract with an choice for a 3rd. He beforehand served as head coach of D.C. United in 2021 and 2022.
His successor shall be Montreal’s tenth head coach because the workforce entered the league in 2012.
Late-season collapse
Losada’s facet was eradicated from the playoffs after shedding 2-1 to Nancy’s Crew and watching the New York Crimson Bulls beat Nashville SC 1-0 with a stoppage-time penalty on MLS Choice Day — the ultimate day of the common season.
The loss to Columbus capped a run of 1 win, three attracts and 5 losses in Montreal’s final 9 league matches, claiming simply six of 27 obtainable factors.
Montreal struggled on the highway all season, ending the marketing campaign with a 2-13-2 file. Solely last-place Toronto FC was worse, going 0-13-4.
Le CF Montréal met fin à sa relation professionnelle avec Hernán Losada >>> <a href=”https://t.co/GSmehwi5Nd”>https://t.co/GSmehwi5Nd</a><br><br>CF Montréal components methods with Hernán Losada >>> <a href=”https://t.co/PwmKWRPR8t”>https://t.co/PwmKWRPR8t</a><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFMTL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>#CFMTL</a> <a href=”https://t.co/Zrjod0f6Ng”>pic.twitter.com/Zrjod0f6Ng</a>
—@cfmontreal
The membership’s 36 objectives this season additionally ranked tied for fourth-last in MLS, as final season’s prime scorer Romell Quioto performed simply 13 video games.
“I will be as sincere as I can, even when we might’ve made the playoffs, my reply would nonetheless be that I am not glad with what I noticed on the sector this season,” sporting director Olivier Renard instructed reporters at an end-of-season media availability.
“There have been some superb moments, however the issue is we solely performed half the season. Away from dwelling, we have been non-existent each by way of character and elegance of play.”
Montreal started the season with three factors in its first seven video games — the worst begin within the membership’s MLS historical past.
Losada’s males then turned issues round with seven wins, two attracts and three losses of their ensuing 12 video games to place themselves firmly within the playoff image earlier than steadily sliding down the standings within the latter half of the season.
Friction with Nancy
Underneath Nancy in 2022, Montreal completed second within the East and set franchise data in wins (20) and factors (65) earlier than shedding within the convention semifinals.
Nancy and workforce proprietor Joey Saputo have been overheard having a verbal altercation after a loss to Sporting Kansas Metropolis in July 2022, main Nancy to formally ask to depart the membership. The workforce and coach agreed that he’d see out the remainder of the 12 months after the dispute.
Losada, in the meantime, took over a workforce that had already undergone sweeping adjustments in personnel earlier than his first day on the job. Key gamers Djordje Mihailovic, Alistair Johnston and Ismael Kone all moved on to European golf equipment.
Some gamers, similar to Canadian worldwide midfielder Mathieu Choiniere, broke out beneath Losada whereas others did not thrive in his system.
Youngest energetic coach
Designated participant Victor Wanyama — a 32-year-old Kenyan with 154 English Premier League appearances — fell out of favour whereas the membership struggled down the stretch. He began as soon as and got here on as an alternative twice within the last 9 video games.
Losada was the league’s youngest energetic head coach when he took over at D.C. at age 38.
D.C. missed the playoffs by one level in 2021 earlier than beginning the season with a 2-4-1 file in 2022, after which Losada was fired.
On prime of being considered as an up-and-comer within the teaching world, Losada additionally earned a fame as one of many league’s strictest coaches throughout his time at United. He required gamers to do weigh-ins twice weekly.
Earlier than shifting to North America, Losada had been supervisor of the Belgian membership Beerschot. He turned to teaching after a 16-year enjoying profession as an attacking midfielder for golf equipment in Argentina, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Montreal is the eleventh MLS workforce to alter coaches this 12 months.
