The contract runs through the 2027 MLS season and comes after leading the black and blue to its first-ever playoff win.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Charlotte FCΒ fans, your head coach is sticking around the Queen City.
On Thursday, the club announced that Dean Smith had signed a new contract that will see him lead the black and blue through the 2027 Major League Soccer season. The announcement comes after Smith lead the club to its first-ever playoff win in the last season and as Charlotte FC kicks off the current season with its best start in team history.
βIβve thoroughly enjoyed being the head coach of Charlotte FC and Iβm honored to sign a new contract with the club,β said Smith in a statement. βEveryone at the club is aligned in our vision to be a leader in Major League Soccer. To our supporters, you have made our family feel welcome in this city and for that weβre grateful to each one of you. We will work together with the aim of consistently challenging for major trophies every season.β
Smith’s first season at the helm saw him lead Charlotte FC to earning a record 51 points total along with the playoff win. The Crown also had the league’s second-best defensive record, with goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina earning MLS honors as Goalkeeper of the Year.
βDean has been an exceptional leader for Charlotte FC and we are excited for him to sign a new contract,β said club owner David Tepper, who also owns the Carolina Panthers NFL team. “The clubβs success over the past year is a reflection of his dedication and commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch. We look forward to what the future holds with Dean leading the way.β
Smith, originally from England, had previously spent more than a decade managing in the English football system, notably with Aston Villa in the English Premier League. He also spent time at Walsall FC, Brentford FC, Norwich City FC and Leicester City FC.
Prior to managing teams, Smith himself was a player; he started as a defender with Walsall in 1989 and played 166 league and cup games there. He also played for Hereford United, Leyton Orient, Sheffield Wednesday and Port Vale before retiring from the pitch as a player in 2005. His managerial career in the English system spanned 18 years. He first joined Charlotte FC in 2023, beginning his time at the helm for the 2024 MLS season.
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