Dean Smith is announced as manager of MLS side Charlotte FC six months after leaving Leicester… as he beats Frank Lampard to the job and lauds ‘ambition’ of league newbies
Dean Smith has been confirmed as the new manager of Major League Soccer franchise Charlotte FC, beating off Frank Lampard to land the top job.
Smith left Leicester six months ago following their relegation from the Premier League, and has now signed a two-year contract with the MLS side, pending receipt of his work visa.
As Mail Sport reported on Monday, Smith had been holidaying in New York with his family, before flying down to North Carolina to put pen to paper on the deal. ‘
‘I’m honored to be appointed as the next head coach of Charlotte FC and cannot wait to start preparations for the 2024 season,’ Smith said in a statement.
‘Throughout the interview process, it was clear that this is an ambitious club with the right ingredients for success and I’m delighted to begin a new chapter in Charlotte.
Dean Smith has been appointed as boss of Charlotte FC, six months after leaving Leicester
‘This is a unique opportunity to be part of a project with so much potential to take to new heights in Major League Soccer. I’d like to thank Mr. Tepper, Zoran, Joe and the rest of the Charlotte FC leadership for entrusting me to lead this team and I look forward to meeting everyone involved with Charlotte FC.’
Smith, who has also coached Leicester City and Norwich City in recent seasons and previously held managerial positions at Brentford and his boyhood team Aston Villa, impressed throughout the interview process.
Charlotte also spoke to high profile candidates such as Frank Lampard.
The Eastern Conference franchise, based in North Carolina, are owned by billionaire David Tepper who sacked coach Christian Lattanzio and his assistant Andy Quy in November despite making the playoffs.
Smith was last at Leicester but was unsuccessful in trying to keep the team in the Premier League after taking over in April with only eight games left to play.
He was coach of Aston Villa for three years, leading the team from the Championship back into the Premier League.
Lampard, meanwhile, has been out of work as a coach since his second spell at Chelsea, where he returned on an interim basis after the Premier League club fired Graham Potter.
Prior to that, Lampard had just shy of a year at Everton, keeping the team in the Premier League in his first half season but was sacked days before he completed his first year at the team.
Charlotte are preparing for their third ever season in Major League Soccer in 2024, looking to build on reaching the playoffs in 2023.
They finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, beating Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 1-0 on the last day of the regular season to advance into the playoffs.
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