NYCFC fires coach Nick Cushing after playoff loss to rival New York Red Bulls
FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan, right, and New York City FC head coach Nick Cushing, left, talk after their first-round soccer match of the MLS Cup playoffs, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster
Coach Nick Cushing was fired by New York City FC on Tuesday, three days after a 2-0 loss to the rival New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference semifinals.
Cushing became the 11th coach among the 29 MLS teams to depart since the start of the 2024 season.
Cushing, a 40-year-old from England, spent 2013-20 as coach of the women’s team at Manchester City, which, like NYCFC, is owned by City Football Group. He became NYC interim coach in June 2022 when Ronny Deila, who led the team to the 2021 MLS title, left for Belgium's Standard Liege.
Cushing was given the job on a permanent basis that November and led NYCFC to 31 wins, 31 losses and 27 draws over 2 1/2 regular seasons in league play.
NYC was knocked out by Philadelphia in the 2022 Eastern Conference final and missed the playoffs in 2023, then returned to the postseason this year after finishing sixth in the regular season.
NYCFC has had five coaches in 10 seasons with Cushing following Jason Kreis (2015), Patrick Vieira (2016-18), Dominic Torrent (2018-19) and Deila (2020-22).
Other MLS coaching changes this season include Nashville’s Gary Smith (May 16), Atlanta’s Gonzalo Pineda (June 3), Dallas’ Nico Estévez (June 9), San Jose’s Luchi Gonzalez (June 24), St. Louis’ Bradley Carnell (July 1), Austin’s Josh Wolff (Oct. 6), Chicago’s Frank Klopas (Oct. 19), Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin (Nov. 7), Miami’s Gerardo “Tata” Martino (Nov. 19) and Vancouver's Vanni Sartini (Nov. 25).
Replacements include Nashville’s B.J. Callaghan (July 3), Chicago’s Gregg Berhalter (Oct. 8), Austin’s Nico Estévez (Oct. 25) and San Jose’s Bruce Arena (Nov, 7).
