NYCFC concluded their head coaching search on Monday when they announced that Norwegian manager Ronny Deila will take over the team for the 2020 MLS season. Deila, who previously coached Scottish powerhouse Celtic, will replace Domenec Torrent as New York’s boss.
Torrent left NYCFC in November, despite finishing at the top of Eastern Conference in his first season with the team. Several reputable names have been linked with the job since, including former Feyenoord boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but they ended up settling for Deila.
“I’m so excited now to get started with preseason and get going with the team,” said Deila in a statement given to ESPN. “This opportunity is with a fantastic club, in a fantastic city, and also, it’s an opportunity to achieve something, to win something. It’s making me almost have goosebumps. I’m really looking forward to getting going, to get started, to get to know the players, and to get the season started.”
Ronny Deila spent his early coaching career in his native Norway, where he led Strømsgodset to Norwegian Cup and the Norwegian League trophies. Deila took over Celtic in 2014, and had two dominating seasons with the club, winning the national titles and one Scottish League Cup.
Deila left Scotland in 2016, returning to his homeland and taking over Vålerenga. Here he hasn’t had the same success, as he failed to win a single trophy during his tenure with the team struggling.
