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MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Introduces Luchi Gonzalez as Seventh Coach in Club History

December 17, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Frisco, TX - FC Dallas introduced Luchi Gonzalez as its new head coach at a press conference at Toyota Stadium. Gonzalez becomes the club's seventh head coach in team history. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

"Our focus was to find a person of integrity who possesses a strong tactical knowledge of the game," said FC Dallas Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. "Someone who enjoys teaching the game, who is very organized and detail-oriented. A coach who builds relationships with his players but is also willing to hold them accountable. Finally, we wanted someone with a proven track record of success as a coach. In the end, it was clear that Luchi was the ideal candidate to lead FC Dallas into the future."

"When we went through this process there were three things that really stood out about Luchi," said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. "First is his energy, he has a passion for this game, a passion for this organization, and you will hear about it all the time. Next is his communications- he's able to connect with everyone he comes into contact with and instill belief in the organization, a belief in success and that's something that really stood out to us. But lastly, is Luchi's attention to detail. That's what really sets him apart."

"We are a club that is not going to prioritize buying stars or bringing stars," said FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez. "We are a club that is committed to developing stars. Star people, star players, star staffs- in our philosophy and I'm 100 percent in-line with that."

Gonzalez, 38, will be the second youngest head coach in MLS when the 2019 regular season begins.

Gonzalez joined the FC Dallas Academy in April 2012 as the U-18 Academy coach. He was promoted to FC Dallas Academy Director in 2015 and has coached the U-16 Academy team for the past four years. In 2016, he led the U-16s to their second straight U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship.

Since Gonzalez joined the organization in 2012, the FC Dallas U-17 and U-19 Academy teams have a combined 248-49-46 record. The U-19s and U-17s have won their division six consecutive years and four USSDA National Championships (U-19s in 2012 and 2016, U-17s 2015 and 2016). The U-17s also made it to the 2016 Generation adidas Cup Semifinals and the U-19s won the 2017 Dallas Cup Super Group Championship.

FC Dallas has signed 15 Homegrown players coached by Gonzalez since he joined the organization: Kellyn Acosta, Danny Garcia, Jesse Gonzalez, Coy Craft, Alejandro Zendejas, Aaron Guillen, Paxton Pomykal, Jesus Ferreira, Bryan Reynolds, Reggie Cannon, Brandon Servania, Kris Reaves, Jordan Cano, Chris Richards and Thomas Roberts.

Gonzalez started his career at Southern Methodist University where he won the 2001 Hermann Trophy his senior year after becoming the top NCAA Division I male soccer player with 21 goals and 12 assists in 22 games. In his four seasons at SMU, he scored 48 goals and 32 assists, ranking fourth all-time in both categories. He ranks third in SMU men's soccer history with 128 career points and led the Mustangs to regular season conference championships all four years. The San Jose Earthquakes drafted him sixth overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft.

After only appearing in 47 minutes for San Jose during his rookie season and failing to make the Columbus Crew SC roster in the offseason, Gonzalez signed with Swedish second division team Bodens BK in 2003 where he scored eight goals and four assists in his first season. In 2004, he signed with Peruvian first division team Sporting Cristal. He returned to MLS in 2005 and signed with Colorado where he scored two goals and two assists in 22 appearances. In 2007, he signed with USL team Miami FC and ended his career at Minnesota Thunder in 2009.

While still a player at the Thunder, Gonzalez led the Felix Varela High School boys soccer team to the state championship in 2008. He officially retired from professional soccer in 2009 to become an Algebra teacher and coach to the boys' varsity soccer team at Columbus High School in Miami, Florida. He also coached at Gulliver Prep before joining FC Dallas in 2012.

In 2013, Gonzalez was nominated to be a part of a 16-month youth development course through the MLS and French Football Federation partnership to earn his Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL).

Gonzalez was born Hialeah, Florida and lives in Frisco, TX with his wife, Amal, and kids, Giordana and Liam.

FC Dallas Head Coach History

Dave Dir hired in 1996, dismissed in 2000

Mike Jeffries hired on January 23, 2001, dismissed on September 15, 2003

Colin Clarke named interim head coach September 15, 2003 to December 4, 2003

Colin Clarke hired on December 4, 2003, dismissed on November 7, 2006

Steve Morrow named interim head coach November 7, 2006 to December 11, 2006

Steve Morrow hired on December 11, 2006, dismissed on May 20, 2008

Marco Ferruzzi named interim head coach May 20, 2008 to June 16, 2008

Schellas Hyndman hired on June 16, 2008, resigned on October 18, 2013

Oscar Pareja hired on January 10, 2014, resigned on November 19, 2018

Luchi Gonzalez hired on December 16, 2018

FC Dallas Head Coach Records

Head Coach Seasons Games W L T Pct.

Dave Dir 5 160 81 75 4 .519

Mike Jeffries 3 78 26 36 16 .436

Colin Clarke (interim) 1 6 2 3 1 .417

Colin Clarke 3 94 39 36 19 .516

Steve Morrow 2 38 15 15 8 .500

Marco Ferruzzi (interim) 1 5 2 2 1 .500

Schellas Hyndman 6 179 62 59 58 .508

Oscar Pareja 5 170 78 49 43 .585

Check out the FC Dallas Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from December 17, 2018


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