Former Premier League coach arrives at Charlotte FC heading to MLS 2024

One of the benches that draws the most attention in Major League Soccer heading into the 2024 season is that of Charlotte FC, who today announced the arrival of Dean Smith to lead the project of the North Carolina organization in the face of into its third year in North America's top category. The English coach won the race over his compatriot Frank Lampard.

The 52-year-old, who has already managed clubs such as Aston Villa, Norwich City and Leicester City, is now in charge of guiding the Bank of America Stadium franchise to the expected prominence, after in the first campaign in its history They were left out of the postseason and in the 2023 season they qualified for the Playoffs, but were eliminated in the wild card round.

It should be noted that the challenge that Smith faces is one very different from the one he encountered in the English Premier League or Championship, since in the case of the MLS there is no relegation and the demands of a club like Charlotte involve continuing to grow. in the Eastern Conference, but it is evident that the short-term goal is to prepare a team that competes no matter what in this area.

Unfortunately for his cause, after his departure from Villa, where he did a great job between October 2018 and November 2021 in returning them to the first division, Dean Smith did not find his way in a year at the helm of Norwich and in his last experience he They handed over a Leicester team that was doomed to relegation towards the Championship, so Charlotte FC is an important revenge.

Smith's first words in Charlotte

In the press release released by the Bank of America Stadium team, Smith commented: I am honored to be named the next head coach of Charlotte FC and cannot wait to begin preparations for the 2024 season. It is a club ambitious with the right ingredients for success and I am thrilled to begin a new chapter in Charlotte. In addition to facing the new adventure in his career from the bench with all the energy in the world, Dean Smith will have to face the champion Columbus Crew, the Supporters' Shield winner, FC Cincinnati, an interesting franchise like Atlanta United or Inter Miami of Lionel Messi, which is the most striking project in the MLS.