Page 64 - Soccer360 Issue 105

MLS 2024 SEASON PREVIEW
BELOW:
Columbus Crew with the 2023 MLS Cup
2024 MLS SEASON PREVIEW
The 2024 MLS season is upon us!
Soccer360 Magazine reporter Sean Maslin has a breakdown of each team heading into the season and what supporters can expect in the season (oh, and of course Messi).
ATLANTA UNITED FC
2023 Record: 13-9-12, 51 points (Eastern Conference Round 1)
Head Coach: Gonzalo Pineda
Key Returning Players: MID Thiago Almada (Best XI, Young Player of the Year), FWD Giorgios Giakoumakis (17 goals), GK Brad Guzan (Captain)
Key Additions: MID Dax McCarty (Nashville SC) and FWD Bartosz Sliz (Legia Warsaw) Key Departures: DEF Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) and FWD Ezequiel Barco (River Plate)
AUSTIN FC
2023 Record: 10-15-9, 39 points (Did Not Make The Playoffs)
Head Coach: Josh Wolff
Key Returning Players: FWD Sebastian Driussi (11 goals, 5 assists), DEF Jon Gallagher (8 assists), and MID Dani Pereira (88.2% passing percentage)
Key Addition: MID Micah Burton (Austin FC II)
Key Departure: DEF Nick Lima (New England Revolution)
CHARLOTTE FC
2023 Record: 10-11-13, 43 points (Eastern Conference Wild Card)
Head Coach: Dean Smith
Key Returning Players: FWD Karol Swiderski (12 goals, 4 assists), Enzo Copetti (6 goals), and DEF Nathan Byrne (29 starts) Key Additions: GK Chituru Odunze (Crown Legacy) and DEF Joao Pedro (Crown Legacy)
Key Departure: FWD Karol Swiderski (Loan- Hellas Verona)
CHICAGO FIRE
2023 Record: 10-14-10, 40 points (Did Not Make The Playoffs)
Head Coach: Frank Klopas
Key Returning Players: MID Xherdan Shaqiri (5 goals, 5 assists), DEF Rafael Czichos (Captain), and MID Fabian Herbers (24 starts)
Key Additions: DEF Andrew Gutman (Atlanta United FC) , DEF Chase Gasper (Houston Dynamo), and FWD Tom Barlow (New York Red Bulls)
Key Departure: DEF Alonso Aceves (Pachuca)
FC CINCINNATI
2023 Record: 20-5-9, 69 points (Supporters Shield, Eastern Conference Semifinalist ) Head Coach: Pat Noonan
Key Returning Players: MID/FWD Luciano Acosta (MLS MVP, 17 goals, and 14 assists), GK Roman Celentano (12 clean sheets), and DEF Matt Miazga (Best XI)
Key Additions: DEF Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC) and FWD Corey Baird (Houston Dynamo)
Key Departure: FWD Brandon Vasquez (Monterrey)
Luciano Acosta
64 SOCCER360
TOP:
Thiago Almada
ABOVE:
Nathan Byrne