The Houston Dynamo have parted ways with head coach Paulo Nagamura, the club announced Monday.
Nagamura only joined the club in January, leading the Dynamo to 12 points and just one defeat from their opening seven games of the 2022 MLS season.
Since then, however, Houston have picked up just five wins and 17 points, sliding all the way to the bottom of the Western Conference. At the time of Nagamura’s departure, the Dynamo are enduring a run of nine defeats and just two wins from their last 13 matches.
Nagamura managed an 8-16-5 record with the Dynamo in MLS play. A club source has confirmed to 90min that this was a purely soccer-related decision, with the weekend’s 2-1 loss away at the Seattle Sounders proving one too many.
“This is a difficult decision because Paulo is a top individual who has earned the respect of the players and staff for his tireless work ethic and commitment to the club. We wish Paulo and his staff well moving forward in their careers,” Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said in a club press release.
“Moving forward, we are excited about this opportunity for Kenny. He is a talented up-and-coming coach who worked his way up through our coaching system and he will lead the team for the remainder of the season.”
Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy will serve as interim boss until the end of the 2022 season, while goalkeeper coach Zack Thornton will remain on staff as well.
Assistant coaches Chris Martinez and Jimmy Nielsen have departed alongside Nagamura, who is the fifth managerial outgoing in MLS this season after Hernan Losada (DC United), Matias Almeyda (San Jose Earthquakes), Miguel Angel Ramirez (Charlotte FC), and Ronny Deila (NYCFC).
The Dynamo’s first game without Nagamura comes at home to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
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