Austin FC Sporting Director and Director of Football Rodolfo Borrell wasted no time in clarifying a hot topic among their fans.
Josh Wolff, the Verde & Black’s only head coach since they joined the league three years ago, will remain at the helm of the club in 2024.
This decision, made official shortly after Austin was eliminated of competition for the 2023 Audi MLS Cup playoffs this weekend, was explained in more detail as Borrell held a press conference Tuesday morning.
“As you know, I landed three months ago or something,” said Borrell, who soon begins his first offseason in MLS. “I have assessed the whole situation and I understand that results matter, but putting results aside, what I can see is a very young coach, with room for improvement like any any other coach in the league and in any other sport. Very dedicated, not only him but also the technical staff. Very dedicated, very knowledgeable and very committed to the city and the club.
“Believe me, I come from some of the best clubs in the world, so I know what I’m talking about when I talk about coaches. And I think we have a very good coach (in Wolff) and I think he’s the right person for us moving forward.
A considered decision
Borrell arrived in Austin with a stellar CV, working as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The Spaniard has also worked extensively for Liverpool and FC Barcelona, providing a global perspective as he shapes an MLS club that went from struggling in an expansion year (2021) to the Western Conference Final (2022) and another season without playoffs (2023).
Showing patience and trust, Borrell said Wolff was the man for the job.
“I have to look not only at the short or medium term, but also at the long term for the club,” Borrell said. “And I think the best decision is to stay with Josh and his coaching staff. We are all on the same wavelength. Obviously, ultimately it’s my decision, but it also has to be supported by ownership and we’re all on the same page.
“…I understand that we are in the culture of winning and no matter how, that is the most important thing. But I have to try to use common sense in all of this. If I am to be guided by public opinion, we are not going in the right direction. What I’m doing, believe me, is a conscious decision.
Home Improvements
In addition to retaining Wolff, Borrell is creating a new scouting and recruiting department staffed by five full-time scouts stationed throughout Europe and South America. Additionally, longtime executive Sean Rubio joined Toronto FC as technical director and Manuel Junco, who served as chief scout since 2020, left the club.
The scouting element is essential, Borrell said, to acquiring players within the confines of an MLS roster.
“We will improve the team, but it will take time because compared to Europe you can say, look, it didn’t work and you can make as many changes as you want,” Borrell said. “Here, because of the rules and regulations about the salary cap, contracts and things you have to follow, etc., it’s not that simple.
“…We will improve the squad as much as possible, but we will need certain transfer windows – winter, summer, winter, summer – and gradually we will improve the team with each transfer window. How much? As much as we can. So it’s not about what we want, but about everything we can. »
As Borrell executes his vision and revamps the roster, he hopes Austin can show a better version of themselves.
“In my first press conference, I said that I believe, and I still believe, that the team surpassed last season,” Borrell said. “Potentially, the team has not been successful this season. It is reality. I think the team is somewhere in the middle of the two seasons, let’s say – it would be fair to say.
