We are just over a month into the MLS season, and a lot has happened.
This league continues to be entertaining, wild and chaotic. As the calendar flips to April, the race to MLS Cup will only heat up. Right now, there is no clear favourite (though you could argue Inter Miami, given their star power) to win MLS Cup.
Let’s look at some big stories around MLS from the last week.
Laurent Courtois is the first MLS coach canned
CF Montreal looked like a team that could challenge for a wild-card spot this season. They did finish eighth last season in Laurent Courtois’ first season as head coach. However, they lost the wild-card match on penalties to Brad Guzan and Atlanta United.
This season, Montreal sits tied with Toronto FC and the New England Revolution with zero wins, one draw and four losses and minus seven goal differential.
As a result, Courtois lost his job and assistant coach Marco Donadel steps as interim head coach.
Given the terrible start to the season, it made sense that Courtois would be on the hot seat. Under him, they have not looked close to returning to the form of the 2022 side that finished second in the Eastern Conference. But Courtois a month into the season is surprising.
CF Montreal have always been a team focused on player development but the young players on their squad such as Nathan Saliba, are decent, but not there yet. It also doesn’t help that owner Joey Saputo has refused to open up the wallet and Montreal had the lowest payroll in MLS in 2024.
In some ways, Courtois wasn’t doing himself any favours. It was hard to tell what their identity was under him. But he was also being set up to fail.
Look at how many head coaches have had the job in Montreal since they entered MLS in 2012. Maybe it’s not the coaches who are the problem, it’s Saputo. No head coach has lasted more than two full seasons in Montreal. Jesse Marsch and Nancy both left Montreal due to conflicts with Saputo. That tells you a lot.
So who would be the next CF Montreal coach? A better question to ask is who would be willing to take the job and work with Saputo?
Surprising teams
One of the best things about sports is that it can be unpredictable. MLS is no different.
Who would’ve thought the Vancouver Whitecaps and Philadelphia Union would be topping their respective conferences? What makes that even more impressive is that both clubs have first-year head coaches (Bradley Carnell with the Union and Jesper Sorensen with the Whitecaps) and are among the lower-spending teams in the league.
Vancouver has been off to a great start (though they had their first loss in MLS play over the weekend against the Chicago Fire) despite numerous injuries, and Philadelphia is tied with Chicago with the most goals in MLS so far. (12) Striker Tai Baribo is the current leader in the Golden Boot race having scored six goals. (Half of the Union’s goals!)
But other teams have been surprising and are near the top of the standings.
As mentioned, the Chicago Fire have started the season hot with a 3-1-1 record and are fifth in the Eastern Conference. They have won three straight, and all have been on the road. It was eyebrow-raising when former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter was hired as the Fire’s head coach but so far, he’s done a good job. Plus, he’s a proven manager in MLS. Hugo Cuypers is second in the MLS Golden Boot race with five goals. What makes this run of form even more impressive is the fact there have been so many injuries, including to midfielder Kellyn Acosta. Chicago could be a team that surprises even more this year.
Austin FC is second in the Western Conference with a 3-0-2 record. A big reason is that they have shown they are a really good defensive team and have only given up three goals so far this season. They beat newcomers San Diego SC over the weekend, and new signing Brandon Vazquez scored the first goal. Vazquez scored 18 goals in 2022 with FC Cincinnati and hasn’t reached that height since with Cincinnati and Monterrey. If Vazquez can take his form to another level, Austin could be a team to watch.
Speaking of San Diego, it is surprising to see them off to a good start. Other than St. Louis City SC in 2023, expansion teams don’t have good first years. But San Diego has a 2-2-1 record despite losing Chucky Lozano to a hamstring injury, and Anders Deyer leads the team with three goals. But is it sustainable? We shall see.
Of course, the standings could look very different in June. With the international break coming to an end this weekend, most teams should have key players back. Why does MLS still play during international breaks? We’ll never know.
