Charlotte FC is expected to hire former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith as their new head coach. According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, Smith and Charlotte are finalizing the details of his contract, and the official announcement is expected to be made soon.
Charlotte FC fired their head coach, Christian Lattanzio, back in November despite the fact that the Italian led them to their first MLS Cup playoffs. The MLS side considered several high-profile candidates while looking for Lattanzio’s replacement, with ex-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard being the front-runner for the job at one point.
However, during the final round of interviews, it was Smith who reportedly presented the best project and vision for the club, prompting Charlotte FC brass to offer him the job.
Dean Smith is best known for his stint with Aston Villa, taking over the club during their time in the Championship and securing a promotion to the Premier League after the 2018-19 season. Smith barely avoided relegation the next season before being sacked after five straight losses early in the 2021-22 campaign.
Smith’s most recent job was a brief stint with Leicester City. He took over the club with eight games left in 2022–23 but failed to save them from relegation to the Championship and departed at the end of the season.
