After two seasons of general malaise at Austin FC…we are so back.
For those of you who are starting to pay attention, there’s been a lot of changes at the club, starting last season when Josh Wolff, the only manager Austin FC has ever known, was fired after the team was mathematically eliminated from the playoffs following a loss at eventual MLS Cup winner LA Galaxy.
And then Austin FC Sporting Director Rodo Borrell got to cooking this offseason.
As was so eloquently put forward by Uncle Tony P. Recently, Rodo first had to clear out the pantry.
Gyasi Zardes, Alex Ring, Matt Hedges, and Jhojan Valencia, with their combined $3.7M in salary are out.
The first domino was Rodo signing Ilie Sanchez from LAFC. The long-time MLS midfielder was a key cog to their team for many seasons (you’ll remember the apex of Austin FC as a club beating LAFC 4-1 at home in 2022 featured a Sanchez-less LAFC). Even at 34 he’s still a player who can control the pace of a match and provide cover for his defensive backline.
Next up was the transfer of dreamboat and top striker Brandon Vazquez from CF Monterey on January 6, 2025, setting the club transfer record (previously done when signing Osman Bukari last season). This seemed to be a move that would pair Sebastian Driussi with a striker in front of him to play off of, forming an attacking triangle of Designated Players with Osman Bukari.
And then…the reports started from Argentina that River Plate wanted to bring Driussi home to his boyhood club (and as far as we know, the only club he has tattooed on his body). The transfer fee was wildly speculated between $6M and $15M. The final number they settled on, after Driussi didn’t report to Austin FC training camp, was $10M, a club record.
Next Rodo added two new midfielders, U22 Nicolas Dubersarsky (Doobie) and Besard Sabovic (no clear nickname). Which fills out the roster nicely, no real holes to fill and improvements in a lot of players. But Austin had three valuable things: an open DP spot, Driussi’s incoming transfer fee, and flexibility of moving on from his $6.7M salary.
In much the same way Driussi didn’t report to Austin to force a transfer, Myrto Uzuni was doing the same at La Liga 2 side Grenada, displeased at having to stay with a club that was relegated and an offer from Austin to double his salary (still a third of what Driussi was making). So Rodo used the assets he added to trigger his release clause, setting the club record for transfer fee a third time since May 30, 2024.
Last weekend Austin FC held their first ever open practice at Q2, and while it was an event put forward by the ticket office to try and upsell everyone, the vibes were immaculate. There’s not just hope and belief, but excitement at seeing the changes on the field and off. We’ve seen new coach Nico Estevez interact with fans more than the previous coach ever did and a club that is openly courting goodwill from supporters and local media, a much needed change.
With an engaged fanbase, a local media paying attention, and the season around the corner…it’s time for a mailbag. These are real questions asked by real people cultivated from the Los Verdes Slack, Twitter, and Blue Sky.
For those of you who don’t know the North End Pirates are great fans and humans, definitely our favorite people in the North End.
1) Caribbean Sea, especially for Piracy;
2) Lady Bird Lake, most notable as it not being a lake and a place that many people in Austin with too much time on their hands think has a serial killer;
3) Lake Titicaca *giggles*
No other favorites.
What is the Difference between a False Nine and a Real Nine?
In soccer parlance it’s about where the striker is deployed and if you have a “nine” who seeks to impose verticality on the defense by playing on the back shoulder of the other team’s defenders of if you want that player to drop back into midfield to outnumber the other team there and use wingers to keep the defensive line back.
For us? We thought it was a funny idea to make a satirical soccer blog riffing off of “The Striker” RIP.
Which game will have Ted Unkel?
Please have a seat, we have awful news for you:
Ted Unkel has imposed his brand of chaos onto an MLS match for the last time. Who will emerge from the pack to take his place, we have a contender: Filip Dujic, Mr. However himself (and yes we look for every opportunity to use this clip).
Why are they booing the goaltender?
First, it’s a goalkeeper not a tender. Second, we’re yelling “Stuuuuuu” for Brad Stuver, best player in Austin FC history. He also fulfills the MLS “ooooo” spot, a team can only have one player the fans can do this for at a time.
Why aren’t the preseason games on Apple TV?
Look, let’s just be glad that all of MLS games are actually on TV and available without us having to look at the schedule and check multiple channels.
What Food Surpasses Chili’s Triple Dippers?
Trick question, the answer is nothing, especially if you’re at the flagship Chili’s on 45th and Lamar.
When does Messi come to Austin?
Lionel Messi and the Inter Miamiettes will not be coming to Austin for the MLS regular season;
With that, we are looking forward to seeing everyone at Q2 Stadium on February 22 and are very excited about this club and what is coming this season. Texia Est Viridis!