Big Apple, big shake-up: New York City FC has shown coach Nick Cushing the exit door, pulling the trigger on a managerial change following a less-than-stellar playoff performance against rivals, the New York Red Bulls. Just three days adrift their defeat in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference semifinals, Cushing finds himself standing in the unemployment line, as NYCFC announced today. This departure marks the 11th head coach role to become vacant among the 29 MLS teams since the start of the season.
According to a report from NBC New York, Nick Cushing has been let go as head coach of New York City FC after a rocky tenure. Cushing, who became interim coach in June 2022 and took on the permanent role later that year, recorded 31 wins, 31 losses, and 27 draws. After missing the playoffs in 2023, NYCFC's return to the postseason this year ended with a sixth-place finish and a knockout loss to Philadelphia.
Originating from England, Nick Cushing previously managed Manchester City’s women’s team from 2013 to 2020 before joining NYCFC. He guided the team through turbulent times, including helping them win the 2021 MLS Cup as an assistant coach and secure the Campeones Cup in 2022. "We would like to thank Nick for his incredible dedication to the club and this city," NYCFC’s sporting director David Lee said in a statement to The Athletic.
Despite past successes, NYCFC has decided to move in a new direction, seeking a new coach for the 2025 season and beyond. Less than a month ago, Cushing denied rumors linking him to the Arsenal women's team. "The whole story is news to me," he said during a news conference, as reported by The Athletic. Now, with his dismissal, those rumors may resurface as NYCFC joins teams like Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union, and Vancouver Whitecaps in the search for a new head coach.
NYCFC is part of a coaching turnover trend in MLS, with notable coaches like Nashville's Gary Smith, Atlanta's Gonzalo Pineda, and Dallas' Nico Estévez stepping down this season, according to NBC New York. With Javier Mascherano set to join Inter Miami, the coaching carousel in MLS shows no signs of slowing down.
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