St. Louis CITY SC Parts Ways with Coach Olof Mellberg

St. Louis, Missouri — St. Louis CITY SC announced Tuesday evening that they have parted ways with head coach Olof Mellberg. David Critchley, head coach of the club’s affiliate, St. Louis CITY2, will take over as interim manager while the team searches for a new head coach.

The decision follows a challenging start to the season, with St. Louis currently sitting 14th in the Western Conference after 15 matches, recording just 11 points with a record of 2 wins, 8 losses, and 5 draws. The team has struggled offensively, ranking near the bottom of Major League Soccer with only 11 goals scored.

<p“Olof has worked tirelessly during his time here, but the decision to part ways goes beyond just results,” said sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel. “We’ve analyzed the team’s performance across many factors. A change was necessary to improve our overall performance and return to a winning culture.”

Mellberg, who was appointed in November after managing the Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna, brought a wealth of experience as a former player but was unable to translate it into success at the club level in the U.S. “Injuries played a role in the challenges he faced, but we could not continue down this path,” added Diego Gigliani, the club president and general manager. “We are disappointed in the lack of success under Olof and wish him well.”

This marks the second coaching change for St. Louis in its brief MLS history. They first appointed Bradley Carnell, before elevating John Hackworth to interim coach last year and then hiring Mellberg.

<pCritchley joined St. Louis CITY SC in 2021, contributing to the success of the club’s academy before taking the helm of CITY2. This season, he guided CITY2 to a 6-4-1 record, faring strongly with 20 goals scored. “I am excited to take on this new challenge,” Critchley said.

<pSt. Louis CITY SC's next match is set for Saturday, when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at Energizer Park during Matchday 17. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. Central Time.