Sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, 2025 has been a year of disappointment for DC United. Now 2025 will also go down as a year of change: DC fired Troy Lesesne after a 5-2 loss to Nashville SC in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night, as first reported by Steve Goff, and have, according to Tom Bogert, agreed to terms with Swiss coach René Weiler to become their new manager.
“We want to thank Troy for his dedication over the last two seasons,” Ally Mackay, DC United's general manager and chief soccer officer, said in a statement. “After internal discussions, we have decided to part ways with Troy and go in a different direction as a club...This is a pivotal moment for D.C. United, and we are committed to making the right decision for the future of our team."
With a tenure lasting just 18 months, Lesesne was hired as DC United’s manager in the offseason ahead of the 2024 campaign. That offseason served as a sort of reset for DC, who also hired Mackay out of Nashville SC’s front office to head up their own. Between Mackay, who replaced longtime underperforming executive Dave Kasper, and Lesesne, DC United had secured two young leaders with fresh ideas.
Still, DC’s struggles continued — they missed the playoffs in each of the four seasons before Lesesne arrived, missed them in his first season, and are on track to do the same in 2025.
With just one Designated Player in Christian Benteke suiting up for DC United this year and underwhelming players across the roster, the club sits 25th in the Supporters’ Shield race. Between the regular season struggles and the U.S. Open Cup defeat, mounting failure prompted change at the head coach position.
Weiler, 51, arrives with a unique coaching resumé and will now coach on his fourth continent. The former defender has coached in his native Switzerland and has also spent time in Egypt with Al Ahly and Japan with the Kashima Antlers. He becomes DC United’s fourth permanent manager since Ben Olsen was fired in 2020, following Hernan Losada, Wayne Rooney, and Lesesne.
DC's academy director Kevin Flanagan will serve as the club's interim head coach until Weiler takes over.
Joseph Lowery
