St. Louis CITY SC Fires Coach, MLS Performance Concerns
The team's search for a new head coach is underway, with a focus on finding a candidate who can restore a winning culture and improve performance. The decision to release Mellberg was made after analyzing the team's performance across various factors, including style of play and DNA.
St. Louis CITY SC has parted ways with head coach Olof Mellberg after a disappointing start to the season, with the team sitting 14th in the Western Conference with only 11 points from 15 games. Mellberg's tenure was marked by inconsistency, particularly in scoring and defense, with the team managing just 11 goals from 15 matches.
The decision to release Mellberg was not solely based on the team's poor results, but also on their failure to adhere to the playing philosophy that had been successful in previous seasons. This marks the third change in head coach in three seasons for the club, which had high expectations after a historic 2023 season. The team's performance under Mellberg was characterized by a lack of scoring and defensive consistency, leading to a 2-8-5 record with 0.73 points per game.
The team will be led by interim coach David Critchley while they search for a new permanent coach. Critchley, who previously coached CITY2, will bring his experience in player development and tactical acumen to the role. He will be joined by CITY2 assistant coach Baggio Hušidić, and technical director John Hackworth will take over as CITY2 head coach. The search for a new head coach is expected to be thorough, with the team looking for a candidate who can restore a winning culture and improve performance.
The firing of Mellberg is a significant development for St. Louis CITY SC, and the team will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season. With Critchley at the helm, the team will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and climb the Western Conference standings. The search for a new head coach will be closely watched, and the team's future success will depend on finding the right candidate to lead the team back to a winning culture.