D.C. United’s search for a new head coach has reportedly come to a conclusion. According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, the MLS side is expected to hire Troy Lesesne to helm the team in the 2024 season.
Lesesne started the 2023 campaign as the assistant with the New York Red Bulls before taking over as interim head coach following the departure of Gerhard Struber. In 32 games in charge, Lesesne recorded 14 wins while promoting an attacking playing style. Despite this, the Red Bulls opted not to retain the 40-year-old and instead search for a new permanent solution.
Lesesne previously served as the head coach of the New Mexico United in the USL Championship. During his time in charge, he had a 34-29-25 record while making the playoffs twice. He also led the team to the quarterfinal stage of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 2018.
D.C. United will hope that Lesesne can help the franchise put an end to a four-season playoff drought. In 2023, the club finished 12th in the Eastern Conference and was eliminated in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
United, which parted ways with Wayne Rooney in October, reportedly considered several other names, including ex-NYCFC head coach Dome Torrent and former USMNT international Hugo Pérez. Torrent was at one point considered the favorite for the job, but the talks between the two sides broke down due to salary demands.
