MLS Coaching Changes: Bob Bradley Joins List of Coaches Who Got Fired in 2023

• Four coaches have already been fired in the 2023 MLS season
• All of those coaches were managing Eastern Conference teams
• Dismal starts to the season were the main reasons behind the dismissals

Bob Bradley’s dismissal as Toronto FC's head coach and sporting director on Monday was the fourth managerial departure in Major League Soccer this season.

All four who were sacked came from Eastern Conference clubs.

Sports Brief looks at the coaching changes in the 2023 MLS season.

1. Gerhard Struber (New York Red Bulls)

The first coaching change of the 2023 MLS season happened on May 8 when head coach Gerhard Struber and the New York Red Bulls mutually parted ways.

The Red Bulls decided to move on from Struber and his assistant Bernd Eibler after plummeting to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, per Daily Mail.

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They won just once in their first 11 games and scored a paltry seven goals during that stretch.

New York named assistant Troy Lesesne as Struber’s replacement through the end of the 2023 season.

The Red Bulls have recorded four wins, two draws and two losses under Lesesne’s leadership, helping them climb up to 11th place in the Eastern Conference.

2. Ezra Hendrickson (Chicago Fire FC)

Chicago Fire FC decided to make a coaching change just hours after Struber and the New York Red Bulls parted ways, sacking Ezra Hendrickson after Matchday 11.

Chicago also got off to a poor start in the 2023 season, winning just twice in their first 10 games. The club was ranked 14th in the Eastern Conference when they let Hendrickson go.

Chicago installed Frank Klopas as the team’s new coach for the remainder of the 2023 season.

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They have recorded three wins, three draws and three losses under Klopas’ leadership, helping them climb up to 12th place in the table.

3. Phil Neville (Inter Miami CF)

The third coaching change of the 2023 MLS season happened on June 1 when Inter Miami CF and head coach Phil Neville mutually parted ways.

Inter Miami decided to move on from the former Manchester United player after the club crashed to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings following Matchday 16.

They lost 10 times in their first 15 games and scored just 14 goals during that span.

They hope that the impending arrivals of new head coach Tata Martino and football icon Lionel Messi will help turn their fortunes around in the second half of the season.

4. Bob Bradley (Toronto FC)

Bradley was the latest coach to get the sack, receiving his marching orders on June 26.

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Toronto FC have struggled this campaign, recording just three wins in their first 20 games, the fewest in the Eastern Conference.

They are currently in 14th place in the standings, per Yahoo Sports. Time is running out for Toronto FC to rescue their season as they are seven points out of ninth place for the final playoff berth in the East.

They have appointed under-17 Toronto FC academy coach Terry Dunfield to be the team’s interim head coach. The 41-year-old is a former MLS player for Vancouver and Toronto.

Martino and Messi reunite

Sports Brief recently reported on Inter Miami naming Gerardo Martino to be their next head coach.

He will be reunited with compatriot Lionel Messi, who made a blockbuster move to the MLS club earlier this month.

Martino coached Messi before with Barcelona and Argentina.