Nico Estévez Named New Head Coach of Austin FC

Austin FC has finalized a deal to appoint Nico Estévez as the club’s new head coach, according to sources. Estévez, who is currently an assistant coach under Mauricio Pochettino with the U.S. national team, will officially take charge of Austin FC after the November FIFA international window.

Estévez brings a wealth of experience to Austin FC, having previously served as the head coach of FC Dallas from 2022 until June 2024. During his tenure at FC Dallas, he led the team to playoff qualification in both 2022 and 2023, achieving a 28-29-27 record. Before joining FC Dallas, Estévez was an assistant coach on Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT staff from 2019-2021 and also worked with Valencia in La Liga, including a short stint as interim manager of the first team.

Austin FC’s sporting director, Rodolfo Borrell, who took over last summer, has expressed his delight in hiring Estévez. Borrell highlighted Estévez’s ambition, MLS experience, and familiarity with the Texas soccer culture as key reasons for the appointment. Estévez is set to join a team that has struggled this season, sitting 10th in the Western Conference with 39 points and having scored just 36 goals, the third-worst in the league.

Estévez’s coaching career began in the youth system of Valencia CF in 2004 and includes notable stints as the head coach of Huracán Valencia CF and as an interim manager of Valencia’s first team. He also served as the Director of Methodology and later as an assistant coach for Columbus Crew SC before joining the USMNT coaching staff.

Austin FC will host a press conference with Estévez and Borrell on October 29 to officially welcome the new head coach. The club’s preseason is set to begin on January 11, 2025, with the MLS regular season starting in late February.