New York City FC is making a major change to begin its hiatus, firing head coach Nick Cushing after two and a half seasons and the 2024 playoffs. NYCFC announced the change on Tuesday, just days after being eliminated from the MLS playoffs with a disappointing 2-0 loss to rival New York Red Bulls.
Cushing joined the organization beginning in 2020 as an assistant coach to Ronny Deila and was part of the team’s MLS Cup victory in 2021. Cushing became the interim head coach in 2022 after Deila left midseason and was promoted to permanent head coach coach before the 2023 season.
5 years, For the city.
Thank you, Nick 💙
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) November 26, 2024
The team reached the MLS semifinals in Cushing’s transition year, but missed the playoffs last year after a late-season skid.
This season, NYCFC finished in sixth place with a record of 14W-8D-12L. Before the loss to the Red Bulls, NYCFC stunned three-man FC Cincinnati in the first round, forcing a Game 3 for the best-of-three series before winning 0(6)-0(5) on penalties.
Before leaving for New York, Cushing coached Manchester United’s women’s team for seven seasons. In 2016, she led the team to the Women’s Super League title and the FA Women’s Cup title in the same year.
Cushing’s firing is just the latest coaching change, including among teams that made the playoffs this season. On Monday, the Vancouver Whitecaps released Vanni Sartini after three seasons with the team despite advancing to the first round of the playoffs. FC Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has announced he is stepping down for personal reasons after leading the team to a record-breaking Supporters Shield finish, and has been replaced by Javier Mascherano, a former teammate of Miami star Lionel Messi.